Tag: Give as you Live Donate

Wagathon is back! 

Dog owners are preparing to walk 9K with their K9s and make charitable donations go through the ‘woof’!

Tails and tongues are set to wag this August with the return of pawsome annual fundraising event, Wagathon™, initiated by leading fundraising platform, Give as you Live Donate.

Dog owners across the UK are being encouraged to put on their walking boots and join their four-legged friends in walking 9K any day they like throughout August and raise vital charity funds.

Participants can choose to raise money for a charity close to their heart, whether it’s a local dog rescue centre or a well-known national charity — they all need support!

When dog owners sign up, they will receive a special welcome pack, including a Wagathon™ tag for their dog’s collar — plus, they will be in with the chance of winning some top prizes from Yappy and Scruffs.

It’s super-simple to get involved in the Wagathon™ challenge. All people need to do is:

1) Pick a charity to support

2) Create a Wagathon™ fundraising page

3) Share the page with friends, family and colleagues

4) Complete 9K with your K9s

Participants are encouraged to tag @thewagathonpack on Instagram and share their fundraising journey to be in the chance of winning a pawsome prize bundle!

For further information, and to kickstart your challenge, visit: 

donate.giveasyoulive.com/pages/wagathon

Charlotte’s story

In memory of her beloved dog, Freddie, who passed away in June 2022, Charlotte Jones from Lapworth, Warwickshire, will be walking and running 9km every day during the month of August. She’ll be walking 279km in total to raise money for Fetcher Dog Charity.

Fetcher Dog was founded because thousands of dogs are born on the streets of Bosnia every year, condemned to starvation, disease and brutal, inhumane deaths.

Fetcher Dog aims to rescue as many of these dogs as possible and find them forever homes.

So far, Charlotte has reached 50% of her fundraising target.

To donate, visit: donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/freddies-walk

Bobby’s story

Lynn Carr, from Seaham, County Durham, owns beautiful spaniels, Willow and Bobby. This August, the trio will be walking 9K in the Lake District for a charity close to all their hearts, Spaniel Aid.

Back in 2017, when Bobby was only 8 months old, he was given to Spaniel Aid by owners who couldn’t look after him. He spent time in foster carer where he was taught simple things like walking on a lead. After seeing his picture on the charity’s Facebook page, Lynn applied to meet him.

Lynn says: “We visited Bobby with Willow to see if they got on and, a week later, Bobby came to join our family. Without this charity, we would never have come across our boy. For that, we are entirely grateful.”

Unfortunately, Bobby was one of dozens of spaniels up for adoption or needing foster carers. Spaniel Aid is funded entirely by donations and the generosity of the public and people who adopt dogs from them.

To find out more, and to donate, visit: 

donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/spaniels-by-the-sea

Follow the trio on their Instagram page, @spanielsbythesea, here: www.instagram.com/spanielsbythesea/

Harris and Bracken’s story

Fiona Reid, from Musselburgh, Scotland, and her gorgeous Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds, Harris and Bracken, are on a mission to walk 9K and raise as much money as possible to support a fellow Dachshund called Daphne.

Daphne was recently rescued by DMT Dachshund Rescue and Support Group, a charity that rescues Dachshunds from the meat trade in China and Korea with the clear mission that no Dachshund gets left behind.

Daphne has a broken leg, and someone sadly cut off her tail, leaving her with an infected stump. The charity wasn’t sure whether her leg could be saved at first; but, after examination, Daphne’s leg can be healed at a heavy cost of £3,700.

To support the charity and Daphne with this bill, Fiona, Harris and Bracken will be walking a 9k coastal walk this August in East Lothian.

To offer them suppawt, and to donate, visit: 

donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/fundraising-for-dmt-dachshund-rescue-and-support-group

Follow the trio on their Instagram page, @theworldaccordingtoharris, here: 

www.instagram.com/theworldaccordingtoharris/

Buddy’s tail

Daniel Hoole, from Chesterfield, is walking with his spaniel, Buddy, for Phoenix Heroes — a charity that supports veterans.

As a veteran himself, Daniel used Phoenix Heroes when he was suffering from PTSD and, through their support, he was able to get his life back on track by socialising with others, fishing and reflecting on the past.

Daniel says: “The charity is so special to me; they have helped me more than I could put into words. Completing Wagathon with Buddy is great as we are both doing what we love and helping others with similar situations to myself. I recommend this challenge to any dog owners as it’s a fantastic challenge to enjoy with your best friend.”

Instead of completing the 9km in August, Daniel and Buddy will be doing Wagathon around Remembrance Day in Snowdon.

Campaign calls for dogs to raise £1 million for UK dog charities

Much-loved local rescue centre, Edinburgh Dog And Cat Home, is participating in the UK’s first Wagathon – a mini marathon for dogs!

The centre, which cares for abandoned, abused and neglected dogs, is asking dog owners to register their pooches to walk 9K for K9s and raise much-needed funds after the impact of the pandemic.

The Wagathon, which can be done in stages in case of little legs and paws, will take place over the August bank holiday weekend …

This August, the UK’s very first Wagathon™, a 9K walking challenge for dogs raising money for other dogs, is taking place. In a unique twist, the dogs taking part will be the ones signing up and being sponsored, rather than the owner.

The fundraising platform Give as you Live Donate is behind the campaign and asking owners to register their furry friends in order to give dog charities in the UK a much-needed fundraising boost.

The goal of the Wagathon™ campaign is to collectively raise a whopping £1 million for dog charities, and to reach this target, Give as you Live is calling for canine contenders to get involved. Although dog-owners will be the ones choosing a charity to support and registering their furry companion, the dogs themselves will be the ones being sponsored and completing the Walk 9K for K9s challenge.

Whether the chosen charity supports vulnerable dogs living in shelters, dog welfare, or training assistance dogs, Give as you Live Donate wants to ensure that vital funds are raised to support the ongoing work of all the much-needed charities.

Fundraising is even more important this year due to the limited opportunities there have been recently as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Annabelle Risdon, Director and Head of Partnerships at Give as you Live, commented: ‘The pandemic has impacted hundreds of dog-related charities resulting in thousands of lost donations to help support vital canine welfare.

“Our Wagathon™ initiative provides an opportunity for these charities to boost their donation drives this summer. The mission is to ensure all dog charities are supported in their quest to increase donations after such a difficult period.’

To be involved in Give as you Live Donate’s Wagathon™ mission to raise a million, dog owners can sign up their pooches for a national Walk 9K for K9s challenge.

Participants need to complete the 9k walk on the bank holiday weekend, Saturday 28th August to Monday 30th August. For dogs who might struggle with the distance, the walk can be spread across the weekend.

Alongside the Wagathon™ campaign and in celebration of National Dog Day, which takes place on Thursday 26th August 2021, Give as you Live Donate will also be running an online competition.

Dog owners could be in with a chance of winning a £100 donation for a dog charity of their choice and a £100 hamper full of treats and goodies for their dog!

If you are a dog owner who would like to join the Wagathon™ mission and help raise much-needed funds for a chosen charity, sign your pooch up here.