The Seeing Eye Celebrates 5th Doggy Dash with Addition of 5k

Morristown, N.J. – The Seeing Eye is celebrating its fifth family- and dog-friendly fundraising event with the addition of a 5k. The USA Track and Field certified and sanctioned course is worth 500 Grand Prix points and awards will be given to top runners. The event is held each October in recognition of Blindness Awareness Month. This year, the event will take place on Sunday, October 8 and all well behaved dogs are invited to participate in the walk or pageant!

The Seeing Eye’s fundraising walk, 5k and pageant is once again returning to Lidgerwood Park in Morristown, N.J. All walk and 5k pre-registrants will receive a free event t-shirt and prizes are available for those who set up a fundraiser. The Doggy Pageant presented by Nobivac includes prizes for various costume categories, best trick, senior beauties, and more. The Seeing Eye will offer free face painting (for humans) and a caricature artist for dogs. Seeing Eye staff and volunteers will provide a Seeing Eye puppy training demonstration, and there will be raffle baskets and a 50/50 cash drawing.

“We’re pleased to be celebrating the fifth year of The Seeing Eye Doggy Dash with the addition of a 5k run, which is something event participants had been asking us to organize,” Seeing Eye President & CEO Jim Kutsch said. “All proceeds from this event support our mission to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs, and the public is invited to join us at Lidgerwood Park on October 8 to meet our puppies and experience how their support fulfills our important mission.”

The walk will be held on a path in Lidgerwood Park and the 5k will take place on the streets of Morristown, beginning and ending at the park entrance. Both events are open to adults and children. Adult pre-registration is $30 online (pre-registration ends September 28), and $35 at the event. Free event t-shirts will be given out to all who pre-register for the walk or 5k by September 28. Children ages 5 to 12 may pre-register for a discounted fee of $20 online and $25 at the event, and children under 5 may walk for free. Pet dogs are not allowed in the 5k, but dogs over 6 months of age may participate in the walk for free. Dogs over 4 months of age may participate in the pageant and other activities. The pageant entry fee is $5 per dog, per category. Owners should bring proof of rabies vaccination to the event. All proceeds will benefit The Seeing Eye’s mission to breed, raise, and train dogs to guide people who are blind and visually impaired.

All walkers are encouraged to fundraise on behalf of the organization. Fundraising rewards for the walk start at just $35. Those who fundraise at higher levels can get their registration refunded, a gift bag filled with prizes, and an opportunity to name a Seeing Eye puppy.

Registration for the walk and 5k starts at 8:00 a.m., the 5K begins at 9:30 a.m., and the pageant judging will take place at 11:00 a.m. All activities will be at Lidgerwood Park at the intersection of Lidgerwood Parkway and James Street in Morristown. To get more information about how to sign up for The Seeing Eye Doggy Dash, the pageant, or how to set up an individual or team fundraiser, visit RunSignUp.com/SeeingEye. Fundraisers may continue to bring in donations to qualify for prizes through October 31, 2017.

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a 501(c)3 non-profit supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.

The Seeing Eye is a trademarked name and can only be used to describe the dogs bred and trained at the school’s facilities in Morristown, N.J. If you would like more information on The Seeing Eye, please visit the website at www.SeeingEye.org, call (973) 539-4425, or email info@seeingeye.org.
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