Professional Veterinary Medical students in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are sponsoring the Fast and the Furriest 5K Race benefiting animals in need of emergency, life-saving treatments. Proceeds from the run/ walk go to the Companion Care Fund, which helps community members pay for life-saving or emergency procedures performed at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The 5K race is slated for Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m., at a new location -- the historic Oval on the Colorado State University campus. The new race route goes through campus and follows the same route as the 5K Homecoming Race. The race is sponsored by the Professional Veterinary Medical Class of 2011. Participants are encouraged to run along with their well-behaved pets; goats, iguanas, cats, bunnies and ducks, along with many dogs, have competed in previous years. Any pet weighing less than 500 pounds is welcome.
The family-oriented day includes a 1K walk/run for children at 10 a.m. and free face painting. The dog and runner expo will take place from 9 a.m. - noon and will feature a booth providing free nail trimming for dogs and cats; an obedience and agility training organization, Progressive School for Dogs, giving demonstrations; and a professional pet photographer, Heidi Mueller, taking photos of racers and their pets. Photos will be available for purchase. Educational booths for pet owners also will be on hand at the race, along with booths offering food and drinks.
Bog Spavin, a band comprised of veterinary students from Colorado State, will provide live music after the race. Local country radio station 99.1 the Point also will broadcast live from the Oval. Awards and prizes will be given to the top three men and women overall and the top finishers with pets. Separate prizes for pets including the fastest finisher, the furriest finisher and the smallest finisher also will be awarded.
The race is $20 for students with a valid ID, $22 for adults and $10 for children 7-12 years old. Children 6 and under are free. Race-day registration is $25. Registration includes a T-shirt. More information is available at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/fastandthefurriest/. Race pre-registration is available at local Fort Collins locations including the Runner's Roost and Foot of the Rockies. Online registration is available at www.active.com. Pre-registration closes on April 16 but race-day registration is available on site from 7-8:45 a.m. Packet pick-up for online registrations is available 7-9 a.m. on site the day of the race.
The Companion Care Fund is entirely need-based and is reserved solely for community members. Without the financial assistance provided by the fund, many clients would be faced with the difficult choice of declining care for their animal or relinquishing ownership. The Companion Care Fund provides hope for both owners and their animals in need.
