Transcript Bark For Life Basics

Bark For Life is an American Cancer Society Relay For
Life fundraising event that honors the care giving
qualities of canine companions and supports our life
saving mission.
Why focus on dog owners?
• The Bark For Life is a great way to empower a
segment of the community that shows tremendous
potential.
• There are approximately 78 million dog owners in
the United States. 39% of American households have
at least one dog in them. Expenditures in the pet
industry are consistently in the billions of dollars.
• Dogs are members of the family and to many of our
cancer survivors, they are caregivers.
“My dog, Max, was one of the many caregivers I was so
fortunate to have during my battle with breast cancer.
The day I came home from the biopsy the results were
still a blur, but I do remember he sat at my feet and
stayed by me the entire night. This is one of the
reasons I became the chair for my Bark For Life. I have
loved every minute of it!”
- Sandy Muscarella, Milton, PA
Bark For Life gives everyone who has been close to a cancer
experience and has a dog in their life a chance to fight
cancer in a very unique way.
We are proud of the success of our Relay For Life events,
which bring more than four million people together in more
than 6,100 communities around the world.
Bark For Life success IS Relay For Life success. Bark For Life
brings people out who may never have experienced the
Community Relay event.
Bark For Life events are:
• Considered a growth strategy for Relay For Life
• Branded as an American Cancer Society event
with emphasis on cross-promotion of
community Relay For Life events
• Volunteer driven - not staff driven
• Built as sustainable events
Bark For Life Event Values
All
•Turn Key
•Simple
•Flexible
•FUN!!!
Staff’s role in a successful Bark
• Find a dedicated, passionate volunteer to
coordinate the event.
• Encourage collaboration with other canine
organizations.
• Provide branding resources.
• Request the event website.
Staff’s role in a successful Bark
• Facilitate cross promotion with the community Relay
event.
• Educate volunteers on the mission of the American
Cancer Society and where the money goes.
• Work with volunteers and location to meet safety
requirements.
• Communication, Communication, Communication!
The role of the Bark For Life Coordinator
• Partner with the American Cancer Society staff
• Find two to three people to help get the Bark off of the
ground.
• It is recommended that one of the volunteers is involved with
dogs professionally.
• With their executive team build a task list and decide who can
complete these tasks.
• Facilitate volunteer networking to bring others into the event.
• Secure the date and location for the event.
Volunteer Networking
Assess the canine presence in your community and reach out to
those individuals to get involved in the Bark For Life.
Some examples include:
• Dog specialty stores or bakeries
• Kennels
• Pet stores
• Veterinarians
• Obedience training specialists
• Dog grooming services
• Pet photographers
• Invisible fence companies
Bark For Life Location
• Make sure the site selected for your event is:
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Dog friendly
Has a walking route that’s approx. 1 – 1 1/2 miles long
Handicap and stroller accessible
Has adequate parking
Has a controlled entrance
Access to water
Can accommodate a walk and activities
Bark For Life Location
• Find out if permits are required and make sure they are
obtained in advance
• Complete American Cancer Society paperwork
• If streets need to be closed off, police will be necessary
• Have a site communication plan (ex: cell phone list)
• Have a site walk-through a week before the event
• Ensure that there are volunteers assigned to setup and cleanup tasks
• Have plenty of water available for canine participants
• Have a contingency plan in case of emergency or rain
Bark For Life Location
• Some logistical considerations
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Trash cans
Onsite vet for canine emergencies
EMTs for human emergencies
Electricity
Signs – start sign, mile markers, directions, American
Cancer Society track signs, Relay For Life promotional
signs
• Portable toilets
• Sound system
• Tents, tables, chairs
Media Relations
Because so many people are touched by cancer and
there are so many dog lovers, Bark For Life appeals to a
wide audience – CAPTURE IT!
• Media relations involve being creative in where you
can place a story. Build a face to face relationship
with the media in your area.
• Pictures drive Bark For Life public relations. Always
have a photographer to document your event.
Promotion is EVERYTHING!
The media love animal stories. By providing facts,
pictures, and personal stories you give the media what
they need to promote your event
Examples of event promotion:
• Save the Date cards
• Posters and filers
• Local newspaper coverage of pre-event fundraisers
and canine caregiver stories
Sponsorship
There are businesses that do not usually
sponsor the Relay For Life event. Bark For Life is
an excellent way to introduce Relay For Life and
the American Cancer Society to these
community members.
The same places where you find potential
volunteers could also provide sponsors.
of the community.
Logistics!
While the schedule for the Bark For Life event may vary based on your communities culture and
resources. Here is a sample of what a Bark could look like:
8:30am – 9am Registration at the event
• Table set up to check in people who pre-registered, collect registration donation from new
participants, distribute bandanas and pick up bags
• ACS educational materials, Relay registration forms, fundraising, and program information,
survivor registration forms, and luminaria forms are available to the public
• Promotional entertainment or music starting at the registration hour and continuing
throughout the Bark For Life event promotes an atmosphere of celebration
9:15am Bark For Life begins
• Cancer survivors – people and canines lead the Bark For Life walk
• 1 mile walk begins with Relay For Life advocacy and education signs posted along the walk
• All dogs on leashes
Logistics!
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10am – 1pm
Program following the Bark For Life walk
Regular Relay and Bark For Life Teams are invited to set up fundraising tables. All donations
are credited to the team that is fundraising
Canine contests for entertainment: dress up, largest, smallest, etc. with prizes
Music is recommended
Vendors that donate back to the Bark For Life, sponsors are invited to offer food & products
as fundraising sponsors
Humane society and sponsor partners are invited to set up and promote their agency or
business
Activities and Entertainment
The activities at Bark For Life events should be a reflection of the
community in which you are located.
• DJ provides music throughout the Bark event. Start walks off
with “Who Let the Dogs Out!”
• Children Activities: A game of Blue’s Clues, a coloring contest,
and face painting.
• Dog Activities: Paw prints made in clay, good citizen tests,
agility runs, best trick contests, best dressed contests, best
beggar, high jumps and low crawls, family photos.
• Sponsor, vendor and dog rescue agency booths.
Survivor and Caregivers
Both human survivors and their canine caregiver can be honored
at Bark For Life.
• Survivor/canine stories can be shared for inspiration, motivation and
celebration.
• A reception tent for survivors and caregivers.
• A Tribute Wall can be created to honor both humans and canines battling
cancers, surviving cancer and those who have been lost to cancer.
• A purple ribbon can be given to Survivor dogs to wear on their bandana
and a yellow ribbon can be given to the Caregiver dogs to wear on their
bandana.
• Luminaria can be offered and the Bark For Life can work with the
community event to have a section to display them.
Grand Marshall
One way to honor survivors is to have a Grand Marshall for your
Bark For Life event. A Grand Marshall should:
• Be a cancer survivor.
• Exhibit a history of participating in the
Bark For Life.
• Have a canine that served as their
caregiver.
• Be able to effectively share their story.
• Receive appreciation and recognition
at the Bark For Life.
Fundraising
Before the Event:
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Dog washing – a local pet store or vet could cover the costs
Dog sitting/Dog walking
Pictures with Santa Paws
Canine costume parade at Howl-o-ween
“Yappy Hours” at homes or pet friendly
businesses.
• Calendar contests
Fundraising
Have activities that raise funds at your event:
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Contests
Onsite dog services such as nail clipping
Silent auctions
Dog treats
Face painting
Other dog themed items
• Donate to Pet Luminaria
• Encourage teams to have onsite fundraisers
Fundraising
The Bark For Life website provides a huge opportunity
to boost the fundraising for your event:
• Participants customize their page and send emails from their
dog to friends, co-workers and family members.
• The event can use the site to hold a contest for the top
fundraising dog.
• Customizing the site with photos of the dogs and owners who
participate. This engages the community in the event.
Mission and Advocacy
• Educate participants on where the money goes.
• Utilize the mission and advocacy information and signs at the
event.
• Share how the money raised benefits canines:
– Our ACS fundraising goes directly to human cancer research and indirectly also
benefits dogs.
– People and dogs are in cancer trials together. Dogs get the same cancers as
people.
– Canine cancer treatments and medications are the result of human research
results.
Team/Participant Coordination
Registration Basics:
• There is a registration donation
• Each registered canine receives a bandana
• Each participant is encouraged to raise at least $100
Bark For Life is a great opportunity to recruit new teams for the
accompanying community Relay For Life event .
Communication is critical with teams and participants. Team or
participant meetings allow the event organizers to share
logistics, fundraising and safety information.
Keeping Participants Safe
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Leashes are a maximum of 6 feet.
Dogs are leashed at all times.
Dogs must be at least 6 months old to attend.
Dogs must be current on all shots.
All dogs’ space must be respected.
Owners must be prepared to “pick up” after their dogs.
A veterinarian must be onsite for the entire event.
A committee member has the authority to remove an antisocial dog.
Resources
Information on Bark For Life can be found at:
• RelayForLife.org/BarkForLife
• Facebook.com/ACSBarkForLife
• Twitter @ACSBarkForLife
Questions can be emailed directly to [email protected].