Bark For Life is an American Cancer Society Relay For Life fundraising event that honors the care giving qualities of canine companions and supports our.

Bark For Life is an American Cancer Society Relay For Life fundraising event that honors the care giving qualities of canine companions and supports our life saving mission.

Why focus on dog owners?

• The Bark For Life is a great way to empower a segment of the community that shows tremendous potential.

• There are approximately 78 million dog owners in the United States. 39% of American households have at least one dog in them. Expenditures in the pet industry are consistently in the billions of dollars.

• Dogs are members of the family and to many of our cancer survivors, they are caregivers.

“My dog, Max, was one of the many caregivers I was so fortunate to have during my battle with breast cancer. The day I came home from the biopsy the results were still a blur, but I do remember he sat at my feet and stayed by me the entire night. This is one of the reasons I became the chair for my Bark For Life. I have loved every minute of it!”

- Sandy Muscarella, Milton, PA

Bark For Life gives everyone who has been close to a cancer experience and has a dog in their life a chance to fight cancer in a very unique way.

We are proud of the success of our Relay For Life events, which bring more than four million people together in more than 6,100 communities around the world.

Bark For Life success IS Relay For Life success. Bark For Life brings people out who may never have experienced the Community Relay event.

Bark For Life events are:

• Considered a growth strategy for Relay For Life

• Branded as an American Cancer Society event with emphasis on cross-promotion of community Relay For Life events

• Volunteer driven - not staff driven• Built as sustainable events

Bark For Life Event ValuesAll

•Turn Key•Simple•Flexible•FUN!!!

Staff’s role in a successful Bark• Find a dedicated, passionate volunteer to

coordinate the event. • Encourage collaboration with other canine

organizations. • Provide branding resources.• Request the event website.

Staff’s role in a successful Bark• Facilitate cross promotion with the community Relay

event. • Educate volunteers on the mission of the American

Cancer Society and where the money goes.• Work with volunteers and location to meet safety

requirements.• Communication, Communication, Communication!

The role of the Bark For Life Coordinator• Partner with the American Cancer Society staff • Find two to three people to help get the Bark off of the

ground. • It is recommended that one of the volunteers is involved with

dogs professionally. • With their executive team build a task list and decide who can

complete these tasks. • Facilitate volunteer networking to bring others into the event. • Secure the date and location for the event.

Volunteer NetworkingAssess the canine presence in your community and reach out to those individuals to get involved in the Bark For Life. Some examples include:•Dog specialty stores or bakeries•Kennels•Pet stores•Veterinarians•Obedience training specialists•Dog grooming services•Pet photographers•Invisible fence companies

Bark For Life Location • Make sure the site selected for your event is:

• Dog friendly• Has a walking route that’s approx. 1 – 1 1/2 miles long• Handicap and stroller accessible• Has adequate parking• Has a controlled entrance • Access to water• Can accommodate a walk and activities

Bark For Life Location • Find out if permits are required and make sure they are

obtained in advance• Complete American Cancer Society paperwork • If streets need to be closed off, police will be necessary• Have a site communication plan (ex: cell phone list)• Have a site walk-through a week before the event• Ensure that there are volunteers assigned to setup and clean-

up tasks• Have plenty of water available for canine participants• Have a contingency plan in case of emergency or rain

Bark For Life Location• Some logistical considerations

• Trash cans• Onsite vet for canine emergencies• EMTs for human emergencies• Electricity• Signs – start sign, mile markers, directions, American

Cancer Society track signs, Relay For Life promotional signs• Portable toilets• Sound system• Tents, tables, chairs

Media RelationsBecause so many people are touched by cancer and there are so many dog lovers, Bark For Life appeals to a wide audience – CAPTURE IT!•Media relations involve being creative in where you can place a story. Build a face to face relationship with the media in your area. •Pictures drive Bark For Life public relations. Always have a photographer to document your event.

Promotion is EVERYTHING!The media love animal stories. By providing facts, pictures, and personal stories you give the media what they need to promote your eventExamples of event promotion: •Save the Date cards •Posters and filers •Local newspaper coverage of pre-event fundraisers and canine caregiver stories

Sponsorship

There are businesses that do not usually sponsor the Relay For Life event. Bark For Life is an excellent way to introduce Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society to these community members.

The same places where you find potential volunteers could also provide sponsors.

of the community.

Logistics!While the schedule for the Bark For Life event may vary based on your communities culture and resources. Here is a sample of what a Bark could look like:

8:30am – 9am Registration at the event•Table set up to check in people who pre-registered, collect registration donation from new participants, distribute bandanas and pick up bags•ACS educational materials, Relay registration forms, fundraising, and program information, survivor registration forms, and luminaria forms are available to the public•Promotional entertainment or music starting at the registration hour and continuing throughout the Bark For Life event promotes an atmosphere of celebration

9:15am Bark For Life begins•Cancer survivors – people and canines lead the Bark For Life walk•1 mile walk begins with Relay For Life advocacy and education signs posted along the walk•All dogs on leashes

Logistics!

•10am – 1pm Program following the Bark For Life walk•Regular Relay and Bark For Life Teams are invited to set up fundraising tables. All donations are credited to the team that is fundraising•Canine contests for entertainment: dress up, largest, smallest, etc. with prizes•Music is recommended•Vendors that donate back to the Bark For Life, sponsors are invited to offer food & products as fundraising sponsors•Humane society and sponsor partners are invited to set up and promote their agency or business

Activities and EntertainmentThe activities at Bark For Life events should be a reflection of the community in which you are located. •DJ provides music throughout the Bark event. Start walks off with “Who Let the Dogs Out!” •Children Activities: A game of Blue’s Clues, a coloring contest, and face painting. •Dog Activities: Paw prints made in clay, good citizen tests, agility runs, best trick contests, best dressed contests, best beggar, high jumps and low crawls, family photos. •Sponsor, vendor and dog rescue agency booths.

Survivor and CaregiversBoth human survivors and their canine caregiver can be honored at Bark For Life. •Survivor/canine stories can be shared for inspiration, motivation and celebration. •A reception tent for survivors and caregivers. •A Tribute Wall can be created to honor both humans and canines battling cancers, surviving cancer and those who have been lost to cancer. •A purple ribbon can be given to Survivor dogs to wear on their bandana and a yellow ribbon can be given to the Caregiver dogs to wear on their bandana. •Luminaria can be offered and the Bark For Life can work with the community event to have a section to display them.

Grand MarshallOne way to honor survivors is to have a Grand Marshall for your Bark For Life event. A Grand Marshall should: •Be a cancer survivor. •Exhibit a history of participating in the Bark For Life.•Have a canine that served as their caregiver. •Be able to effectively share their story. •Receive appreciation and recognition at the Bark For Life.

Fundraising Before the Event: •Dog washing – a local pet store or vet could cover the costs•Dog sitting/Dog walking•Pictures with Santa Paws •Canine costume parade at Howl-o-ween•“Yappy Hours” at homes or pet friendly businesses. •Calendar contests

Fundraising Have activities that raise funds at your event:

– Contests– Onsite dog services such as nail clipping– Silent auctions– Dog treats– Face painting– Other dog themed items

•Donate to Pet Luminaria •Encourage teams to have onsite fundraisers

Fundraising The Bark For Life website provides a huge opportunity to boost the fundraising for your event: •Participants customize their page and send emails from their dog to friends, co-workers and family members. •The event can use the site to hold a contest for the top fundraising dog. •Customizing the site with photos of the dogs and owners who participate. This engages the community in the event.

Mission and Advocacy • Educate participants on where the money goes. • Utilize the mission and advocacy information and signs at the

event. • Share how the money raised benefits canines:

– Our ACS fundraising goes directly to human cancer research and indirectly also benefits dogs.

– People and dogs are in cancer trials together. Dogs get the same cancers as people.

– Canine cancer treatments and medications are the result of human research results.

Team/Participant Coordination Registration Basics: • There is a registration donation • Each registered canine receives a bandana• Each participant is encouraged to raise at least $100

Bark For Life is a great opportunity to recruit new teams for the accompanying community Relay For Life event .

Communication is critical with teams and participants. Team or participant meetings allow the event organizers to share logistics, fundraising and safety information.

Keeping Participants Safe• Leashes are a maximum of 6 feet. • Dogs are leashed at all times. • Dogs must be at least 6 months old to attend.• Dogs must be current on all shots. • All dogs’ space must be respected. • Owners must be prepared to “pick up” after their dogs. • A veterinarian must be onsite for the entire event. • A committee member has the authority to remove an anti-

social dog.

ResourcesInformation on Bark For Life can be found at: •RelayForLife.org/BarkForLife•Facebook.com/ACSBarkForLife•Twitter @ACSBarkForLife

Questions can be emailed directly to [email protected].