PHILADELPHIA (September 16, 2020)—This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox Chase Cancer Center will hold its 21st annual Paws for the Cause dog walk virtually. The event, hosted by the Fox Chase Board of Associates, has raised more than $500,000 for cancer research at Fox Chase, and although this year’s format will be different, the goal is the same.
Historically a one-day event, Paws for the Cause will take place over the entire month of October, offering the opportunity to make a difference and fundraise all month long. The organizers are excited to welcome cats and their owners to participate, a new addition this year. There will be a “Pup Rally” kickoff on Facebook on Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Katrice Graham, who was successfully treated for stage II estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer at Fox Chase, will serve as the Patient Ambassador for 2020. “I want to be sure that I never forget how being a patient at Fox Chase made me feel every time I entered the building. I was convinced that I was the most important patient in the hospital,” Graham said.
“Doctors, nurses, and therapists made me feel that everything and everyone at Fox Chase was about reaching the best possible outcomes for me. I’m so excited to be this year’s Paws Patient Ambassador. Raising money is essential to our continued success! Everyone has a part to play in eradicating cancer; none of us can do it alone,” she added.
“I joined Fox Chase in 2004, and as long as I’ve been here, Paws for the Cause has been an annual ‘can’t miss’ event, the thing to do in the fall,” said Physician Ambassador David Y.T. Chen, MD, FACS, a urologic oncologist and longtime Paws for the Cause participant.
“It brings together our doctors, nurses, staff, and patients, as well as our neighbors in the surrounding community, and it’s a time that we can all come together for a common cause. It’s a time to gather and share in our love of our dogs, and importantly, we can raise money to support the spirit and research and progress that happens every day at Fox Chase Cancer Center,” said Chen.
To register, participants pay a one-time registration fee. There are no requirements, so participants can walk, nap, or snuggle—whatever moves them and their pet. There is no need for activity tracking, but participants are encouraged to share their best photos throughout the month on the Facebook event page and their own social media. Just use the tag #PawsForTheCause.
Individuals can donate or sponsor an individual at any time. For more information and to register, visit foxchase.org/paws.
The Fox Chase Board of Associates is grateful to all supporters. Sponsors of this year’s event include our generous Title Sponsor West Pharmaceutical Services; Janet Engstrom and Paul Engstrom, MD, FACP, who are sponsoring in loving memory of Corinne Roxby; and Metropolitan Veterinary Associates.