Paws for People Wag & Walkathon to step off Sept. 15

PAWS for People, the Newark-based pet therapy nonprofit, will host its annual, month-long cumulative Wag & Walkathon from Thursday, Sept. 15 to Saturday, Oct. 15.  This year’s event will step off with a Facebook live event. The month of mile-tracking and fun challenges will conclude with an in-person celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 15, at Glasgow Park in Newark.

“The Wag & Walkathon is our single most important fundraising event of the year,” said Lynne Robinson, PAWS for People executive director. “Each year has been more and more successful, which means more and more support for the life-changing pet therapy programs that PAWS provides. We hope this year will be better than ever.”

The cumulative marathon concept allows individuals to log their 26.2 miles any time at their own pace, throughout the month. Participants can run or walk individually, with a pet, or with friends. This year’s theme, Wag Your Tail on the Trail, encourages everyone to explore local parks and trails.

To learn more and register, go to pawsforpeople.org/walkathon.

PAWS for People is nonprofit organization committed to providing hope, encouragement and comfort to people in need through interaction with a gentle, affectionate pet. PAWS trains and certifies caring people and their well-trained pets to interact with community members of all ages throughout Delaware and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

PAWS offers programs that address a range of physical, emotional and mental needs in a wide variety of sites including hospitals, eldercare facilities, courthouses, rehabilitation centers, colleges, schools, libraries, corporate offices and more. In addition, Paws for Reading and PreK Paws teams provide sessions to help children enjoy reading while improving their literacy skills with the encouragement and comfort of a therapy pet.