McLean Puppy Chronicles: Walkathon Was Great Fun!

Saturday was the Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathon. We had a group of six walking for Team Coach: Jan, Christina, Fred, me, Elizabeth and Carly. Jan and Christina work with me in the library. Elizabeth and Carly are my student library proctor leaders. Everyone was played a major role in raising the $3640 dollars that resulted in our being able to name a puppy Dewey (after the Dewey Decimal System!).

The team at the start of the walk.

We all wore our Team Coach t-shirts. They were pale blue and had an artistic b/w photo of Coach on the front with Team Coach curving over the top.

Cheryl, Christina and Jan with Coach sitting at our feet.

The walk was perfect. There was a slight cool breeze and it was sunny. It was a lovely day.

Here we are stopped by the water's edge waiting for Jan and Fred to catch up.

A view from the back as we are walking to the finish.

Jan took a great photo of Fred kneeling by Coach.

Here's a photo of Carly, Elizabeth, Christina and Cheryl at the finish line.

After we finished the walk, we went over to the blind walks where the trainers had some of the phase 3 dogs out giving walks. Carly and Elizabeth took a blind walk. This stage is the stage that Jam is at.

Carly starts on her walk with her new guide.

Carly and her guide are making great strides.

Elizabeth has a chocolate lab for a guide.

Later in the evening, Raichell, of the other student library proctor leaders was able to join us for the walkathon dinner. The fourth, Keebler, had play practice.

Here we all are dressed up for the walkathon dinner.

It was really great for all of the girls to be able to hear from the people who would be benefitting from their hard work what it meant to the guide dog recipients: the freedom it gave them, the way it changed it their lives. It was also nice to get to see friends from far away and reconnect and to be able to chat with friends who live nearby. All in all it was a great evening.