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 Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A portion of the proceeds also will go to the DVM Class of 2011 Scholarship Fund.
The 5K race is slated for Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m., at the historic Oval on the Colorado State University campus. Race participants are encouraged to participate in the race 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. The dog and runner expo will take place from 8 a.m. - noon and will feature live entertainment including Angelyne, the Amazing Deaf Cattle Dog, doggie demos, informational and vendor booths, face painting, race day give-aways, and live music with Bog Spavin whose band members are all CSU veterinary students
Awards and prizes will be given to the top three men and women overall and the top finishers with pets. Separate prizes for pets include the furriest, smallest, biggest and most unusual pet finishers. Prizes also will be awarded in the children’s run for first-place finishers with a pet.
The race is $20 for students with a valid ID, $22 for adults and $15 for children 7-12 years old. Race-day registration is $25 for adults and $22 for students. 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 beginning at 7:30 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.
