Above: For the third year, loved ones of a resident who loved helping others and walking her dogs invite the community to join them honoring her by combining the two activities in one fundraiser. (image edited from fundraiser website)
On October 6th, a special “Dog Walk” will take place in Southborough. The 3rd Annual Shannon’s Path Dog Walk will raise money for research and care related to rare cancers. The fundraiser is held in the memory of late resident Shannon McDonald.
The fundraiser was launched in 2022 in memory of McDonald’s love for walking her dogs and to help fund rare cancer research and care:
funding specific research on appendiceal cancer as well as initiating our HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Endure) fund which provides direct funding to cancer patients who need financial assistance affording integrative therapies while on chemotherapy.
You can read more about McDonald and the mission here.
McDonald’s family shares that their efforts to date have already raised $80K. Her husband Howard Rosenstein described it as “a wonderful testament to local and loyal supporters who want to help make a difference.”
Their goal for this walk is to reach the $100K mark by raising an additional $20K. As of this morning, they are 56% of the way towards making that goal.
This year’s 5K walk is scheduled for Sunday October 6th at 10:00 am. Although participants are encouraged to walk their leashed dogs, you don’t need to have one to take part. (Plus, they’re happy to have non-local supporters join them virtually.)
The website also refers to a planned “Fun Run”.
Below is a video organizers shared with highlights from the inaugural walk.
The course will again begin and end at Neary School campus, 53 Parkerville Road. To register and learn more about the event, click here.
The funds raised go to the 501(c)3 created in McDonald’s memory. To learn more about the cause, click here.
