The Athabasca Leo Club is preparing to bring dog lovers together for its first ever dog walk fundraiser along the Trans Canada Trail June 24.
Community members are invited to bring their leashed dogs for a group walk along the trail. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be split evenly to support the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) and the Lions Foundation of Canadian Dog Guides.
Athabasca Leo Club advisor Mike MacLean said the club sees the walk as an opportunity to start a new tradition.
"Members of the Leo Club, they identify that as a potentially great tradition to start," MacLean said, adding the club is not aware of any other dog walk function in the area. "This is a great way to raise money and awareness about a great thing."
The Leo Club is hosted at Edwin Parr Composite School and is a youth-oriented version of the Athabasca Lion's Club.
Athabasca Leo Club president Joshua Li said organizing the event has been a challenge for the group.
"It has been very confusing. This is my first time and the club's first time doing something on this scale, but it's been a fun, educational experience," Li said.
MacLean said the club has been working to call businesses and gather pledges for the event, with members successfully balancing their school work and responsibilities for organizing the walk.
"We know it helps them learn how to prioritize things. We know that their studies come first and they've been good to keep track of that," MacLean said.
Li said the dog walk is a good way for the Leo Club to showcase itself to the greater community.
"One of the themes of the Leo Club is leadership and helping out with the community and making the community a better place," Li said. "By doing so, we have now gotten to know people in the community better."
Depending on the response, the Leo Club hopes to make the dog walk an annual event, depending on the response it gets, MacLean said.
"We're really hoping to encourage people who enjoy the time they have with their dog and walk them that it's a nice way to socialize together," MacLean said. "Any reason to get everyone out walking their dogs is always a good reason."
The event starts east of the SS Athabasca Carwash and runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. June 24.
