4th Annual GTHS Walkathon

Exceeds Expectations!

Happy trails and tails! Our 4th Annual Friends for Life Walkathon was indeed a success! Last Saturday, September 24th at Blue Mountain Village, animal lovers from all over Ontario gathered together to raise much needed funds for animals in need throughout our community.

This year, the GTHS’ Friends for Life Walkathon raised over $30,000 in funds, breaking our goal of $25,000! How awesome is that! Every cent will help to support the hundreds of animals that turn to the GTHS for help each year.

“We are so thankful to our amazing sponsors, the vendors, volunteers and hundreds of participants that took part through donations, pledges and awareness,” said Marissa Dolotallas, Development & Administrative Supervisor for GTHS. “As a 100% privately funded charity, these valuable funds will help to pay our extensive medical and supply bills to support the animals within our shelter.”

While this event is in large part designed to raise funds, it was also a day to celebrate the joy of being a pet owner and FUN for the whole family, including furry friends!  Participants took part in a 2K/5K Walk and new this year, a 3K Adventure Walk up and down Blue Mountain. We had a record-breaking turnout – approximately 150 Walkers – and not to mention the hundreds of locals and tourists who came to visit the Village. Little did they know they would be bombarded with doggie tails along the trails lol!

There were kid-friendly games and exciting activities for both people and their pets, including a GTHS Alumni zone, pet photo booth, and a tropical pet oasis with dog pools. Local vendors also showcased a wide variety of goods and services from dog training & walking services to holistic and natural pet foods to doggie backpacks and winter coats.

“We were thrilled to welcome community members and their beautiful pets to Georgian Triangle Humane Society’s successful Friends For Life Walkathon in Blue Mountain Village.  With great open spaces, natural trails and pet-friendly businesses in the Village, it was the perfect setting to support such a worthy cause.” – Andrew Siegwart, President of Blue Mountain Village Association. 

The weather was a blue bird day – starting with a spectacular sunrise watching it from the top of Blue. At that moment as the sun begins to unfold and reveal its brilliance, you just know that all will be amazing! How can it not be. We have an unbelievable team of volunteers who came out to help make it all happen, staying for the long haul of set-up to tear down. We are, and always will be, ever so grateful.

Equally important, we give thanks to other members of our community, our sponsors. They deserve much praise as their financial support not only supports our shelter animals, but also helps us create buzz and a memorable event – talk of the town! Some sponsors are our true and trusted supporters and some are new – which we are so excited to welcome and have on board.

And last but never least, our fundraisers. Raising funds takes grit, grace, and a whole lotta heart – and these star teams and individuals deserve our utmost kudos and respect for spearheading their personal fundraising campaigns with much verve and success! 

Indeed, the community spirit is alive – all for the community cats and dogs who need our help!

Thank you to everyone, including the participants who walked the WALK!

As a final hurrah, sending a much deserved shout out with an extra special serving of gratitude to two key volunteers: Danielle Brown who worked tirelessly not only during the event from sun-up to tear-down but also prepping posters and animal profiles (she has an amazing and uncanny gift of anticipating needs).

And our intrepid event Chair, Treva Windebank, who dedicated hours and months of her time, energy and heart to help put on our biggest and best Walkathon yet!!

And yes, we’re already looking forward to next year 🙂

My pleasure to be a part of it – with sincere gratitude,
~ Marissa

Marissa Dolotallas
Development & Administrative Supervisor

BTW We’re looking for feedback and would love your input to make next year bigger and better! Here’s a quick little survey to share your thoughts and experience… https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JQBKPK9

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THANK YOU TO OUR Top Fundraising TeamS

$ 6,000+ Walk Fur Paws
$ 1,589   The GTHS Team!
$    517   Luv of Dogz
$    420   MegWalks Adventure Walkers
$    367   Dogs R BFFL
$    292   Mullin’s Pet Market
$    260   The Mutley Crew
$    225   See Sawyer Run Run Run!
$    100   The Magnum PI’s

THANK YOU TO OUR Top Fundraising INDIVIDUALS

$ 1,910  Elizabeth Parker
$ 1,605  Giselle Seheult
$ 1,360  Barbara Foster
$ 1,155  Pamela Odam
$    945  Monika Merz
$    795  Katrina Ardiel
$    730  Sonya Reichel
$    620  Jill Kitchen
$    490  Leslie Lewis
$    395  Olav Vanderzon
$    350  Mary Nigh
$    346  Sandra Kehoe
$    330  Jayne Williams
$    325  Terri Schipper
$    285  Linda McMullen
$    270  Evelyn Agnew
$    260  Lindsay Robinson
$    230  Deborah Masters
$    225  Carol Johns
$    225  Marissa Dolotallas
$    200  Dave Garner
$    175  Marg Reid
$    160  D Sims
$    155  Philippa Price
$    150  Kelly McDougall
$    150  Victoria Shipp
$    145  Treva Windebank
$    135  Melissa Weatherall
$    135  Elizabeth Gaetan
$    125  Megan Mossop
$    120  Tricia Bloomfield
$    120  Rachel Oldfield
$    100  Alison Wright
$    100  Aneitta Menard
$    100  Blue Mountain Four Season
$    100  Carly Moulton
$    100  Catherine Pilon
$    100  Deborah & John Menary
$    100  Diane Tadman
$    100  Jeremy Johnston
$    100  John & Leslie Worts
$    100  Randy Anderson
$    100  Richard Franke
$    100  Susan Anderson
$    100  Walter Lidster

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Title Sponsors: Nestle Purina and Blue Mountain Village

Media Sponsor: 95.1 The Peak FM

Ask The Expert Sponsors: BDO |  CIBC Collingwood  |  Mullins Pet Market  |  RBC Dominion Securities – Catherine Sendell and Ian Kennedy  |  Sunshine Financial, The Mortgage Centre – Penny Wrightly

Event and Vendor Sponsors: Arbtech Tree Care  |  Blue Mountain Pets Hotel  |  CC Tatham & Associates  |  Collingwood Dental Centre  |  Collingwood Veterinary Services  |  Creemore Village Pharmacy  |  Deb Boyd  |  Eagles Weed Control & Lawn Service  |  Floorcrafters  |  Frank Clumpus  |  Georgian Bay Lawn & Snow Surfaces  |  Georgian Shores Dental Centre  |  Graceful Designs  |  Home Furniture & Appliances – Collingwood  |  Home Hardware -Thornbury  |  Integrated Wellness  |  Kennedy Orchards  |  Larry Gross  |  Little Tree Company  |  Lucien Delean  |  Meg Walks  |  Multi Menu Pet Foods  |  Municipality of Meaford  |  Noble Insurance  |  Norma Delean  |  Pets We Love  |  Pro Guard Property Management  |  Royal Canin  |  Remax at Blue, Gerry Wayland  |  Riplee’s Ranch – Georgian Bay  | See Sawyer Run  |  Tail Wagging Delights  |  Thermography Clinic Inc.  |  Town of Collingwood  |  Two for the Core  |  Wendy Gross

THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Bonnie Bodkin  | Carson Paulo  |  Cathy Bright  |  Cathy Elton  |  Cathie MacPherson  |  Cindy Warsh  |  Courtney Hancock  |  Danielle Brown  |  Deborah Boyd  |  Denis Simard | Hallie Fryer  |  Janet Tipold  |  Jeremy Johnston  |  John Worts  |  Karen Schilcher  |  Karla Seymour  |  Keidi McKenna  |  Kellie Casey  |  Kim Racioppa  |  Kim Williams  |  Kyle Burton  |  Leslie Davis  |  Leslie Worts  |  Lindsay Robinson  |  Lisa Shatford  |  Lynne Patterson  |  Michael Racioppa  |  Michael Robinson  |  Richard Sapsworth  |  Sonya Reichel  |  Terri Schipper  |  Treva Windebank  |  Udo Schilcher  |  Walter Lidster

PHOTOS…