Rapids for Rover Capstone Project Raises Funds to Fight Canine Cancer For Senior, Kelsey Griffith of James River High School canine cancer is a subject near and dear to her heart. Having lost two of her beloved dogs to cancer she wanted to do something to stop canine cancer in its tracks. Five out of every ten dogs will die from cancer. Students in the Leadership and International Relations Center at James River are required to create a Capstone project which utilizes the skills learned in the program to make a difference in the community. Making a difference is just what Ms. Griffith hoped to do when she contacted Fetch-a-Cure, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families understand dog cancer. FETCH educates families about warning signs of pet cancer to promote early detection, along with aiding dog owners whose pets are suffering from the disease the happiest lives possible and provide financial aid for treatment. After talking with Rebecca Spivey, Volunteer and Events Coordinator at FETCH Kelsey eagerly signed on to be the event photographer for the organizations 3 rd annual Mutt Strutt. With AP Photography under her belt, and an interest in pursuing photography as a component of her university education, Ms. Griffith felt she could make a contribution to the success of the event. The 3 rd Annual Mutt Strutt took place on Saturday, October 27, 2013 at Deep Run Park. The event was well attended, with over # people and their canine companions attended. Following the event Ms. Griffith designed and produced a Mutt Strutt calendar featuring mutts from the strutt. To date, over $1000 have been raised from calendars have been sold benefitting Fetch-a- Cures program. Ms. Griffith will be attending Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and though she wont be able to attend next years event she will still put her mark on next years mutt strut. The events doggie favor bag will include 200+ doggie tug-toy made from hundreds of t-shirts she collected and organized student volunteers to help her transform those t-shirts into toys. The 4 th
Annual Mutt Strutt will take place on Saturday, October XX, 2014. For more information or to make a donation go to http://fetchacure.com . -MORE-
About FETCH a Cure: FETCH a Cure is a from-the-heart, 501 (c) (3) local non-profit organization determined to */improve the quality of life for pets. FETCH focuses on issues of pet health, most specifically cancer and aging and provides owners with the resources to recognize symptoms of early cancer detection and the issues regarding senior pet care. Through our mission of Prevention, Awareness and Treatment, FETCH is helping pet owners make better, fully informed decisions about caring for their aging four-legged companions.
About the James River High School, Leadership and International Relations Specialty Center This mission of the Leadership and International Relations Specialty Center is to develop a capacity to recognize and provide the essentials of ethical leadership in the context of community, national, and international affairs; and to help each student understand the importance of international relations for issue resolution and the well-being of our society and global community.
This mission is achieved through an engaged and in-depth study of the history and theories of leadership, how leadership varies across contexts and constituencies, the development of essential leadership competencies and skills, and topics and issues in international relations. Recognizing that learning is active, not passive, the students in the Center participate in interactive and experiential learning opportunities, encouraging self-understanding and personal growth. For additional information about the Leadership and International Relations Specialty Center contact Ashley Hewlett, Specialty Center Director at Ashley_Hewlett@ccpsnet.net, or 804.378.2420 ext. 4165.