2024 RACE at Your Own Pace to #ShadeOutDM

WHY WE RACE:
Together, we can Bark Out Loud for the pups that can't! Most people don't know that this horrible disease CAN EASILY BE PREVENTED with proper testing prior to breeding (& making healthy choices in the best interest of the pups).

WALK, RUN, RIDE OR EVEN ROLL - "_GET OUT & MOVE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T!"_ (IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD) YOU CHOOSE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.

* 5K FOR COMPETITIVE RUNNERS - we will have two awards: one for the FASTEST RUNNING TIME FOR THE WHOLE 5K IN ONE DAY AND the other award will go to the person that runs the LARGEST DISTANCE EVERY DAY FOR THE PERIOD OF THE WHOLE WEEK (this one may be over 5K in distance). All times must be submitted by using the form that will be emailed to all Runners registered for this competition.
* COMPETITIVE WALKERS - we will have two awards: one for the FURTHEST DISTANCE WALKED IN ONE DAY (tastest time wil be used for tie breaker) AND the other award will go to the person that walked the LARGEST DISTANCE EVERY DAY FOR THE PERIOD OF THE WHOLE WEEK (this one may be over 5K in distance). All times must be submitted by using the form that will be emailed to all Walkers registered for this competition.
* DOG JOG - For those that are already walking your dog(s) daily, why not make it count?! You & your pups will participate VIRTUALLY!!!
* COUCH DOG - For those that don't have the ability or desire to go out for a walk but wish to support our cause and cheer everyone on VIRTUALLY - Everyone needs a cheer team & we all know that one pup that would prefer to bark at the passer-by'ers from their front window (hehe), well Couch dogs have a role too! _Woof, Bork, Woof!_
* _NEW_ CRUISIN FOR DOGS - Ride your bike, motorcycle, horse, scooter, rollerskates, skateboard, wheelchair, etc!
We will have an award for the FARTHEST DISTANCE "RIDDEN" IN EACH "DISCIPLINE" FOR THE PERIOD OF THE WHOLE WEEK. All travel times must be logged & submitted by using the form that will be emailed to all registrants signed up for this competition.

* _NEW_ SWIMMERS FOR DOGS - farthest distance "swam" over the duration of the whole week. All distances must be submitted by using the form that will be emailed to all swimmers registered for this competition.

AWARDS & PRIZES: All will be eligible for prizes for the following categories: Largest Team (both In-Person and Virtual), Most Teams together in an "In-Person" meetup, Best Pack Leader, Clearest Message, Most Educational posts, Favorite Social post (FB, IG, TT, X, etc), Best all breeds video, Best Dressed pups, Best RACE pic, Youngest Advocate, Largest Youth Club Team, Turtle award, Most creative overall, Best pic with sunglasses, as well as of course the Division WINNERS for DM Warrior, Corporate, Helping Paws, Scholar (University), Advocacy and many more prizes.

ALL PAID ENTRIES ARE ALSO ENTERED INTO OUR FREE GIVEAWAYS DRAWINGS TOO!

"HOW-TO" SIGN-UP:

Register for the event & either

CHOOSE A TEAM to support OR START YOUR OWN TEAM - If you have a pup that has taken or is currently taking this DM journey, then please be sure to start your own WARRIOR TEAM so we can be sure to honor them...

"HOW-TO" PARTICIPATE:
1. REGISTER ON-LINE (choose a Team to support or start your own!)
2. PRINT OUT YOUR BIB (Race #) in your email.(check your _spam folder for the email or log-in to your RACE profile & print it from there_)
3. TAKE A PIC of your pup (or stuffed animal) wearing sunglasses & your RACE # (go ahead & get creative!)
4. POST IT on Social Media during the week of the RACE (the goal is to flood social media during the week so that it keeps popping up in people's newsfeeds to get them to ask_ "What is this thing called DM?" _ & lastly
5. TAG #SHADEOUTDM in ALL of your posts!

AWARDS & PRIZES: All will be eligible for prizes for the following categories: Largest Team (both In-Person and Virtual), Most Teams together in an "In-Person" meetup, Best Pack Leader, Clearest Message, Most Educational posts, Favorite Social post (FB, IG, TT, X, etc), Best all breeds video, Best Dressed pups, Best RACE pic, Youngest Advocate, Largest Youth Club Team, Turtle award, Most creative overall, Best pic with sunglasses, as well as of course the Division WINNERS for DM Warrior, Corporate, Helping Paws, Scholar (University), Advocacy and many more prizes.

_***ALL PAID REGISTRATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE GIVEAWAYS & PRIZES (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)._

ABOUT DM:
DM - DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY (ALSO KNOWN AS THE CANINE VERSION OF ALS / LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE) IS A GENETIC DISEASE THAT CAN AFFECT OVER 100 BREEDS OF DOGS! IT IS CAUSED BY A DEGENERATION OF WHITE MATTER IN THE SPINAL CORD (THE FIBERS THAT TRANSMIT MOVEMENT COMMANDS FROM THE BRAIN TO THE LEGS) AND TYPICALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 8-14 YEARS OF AGE (WHILE SOME MAY DEVELOP THE SYMPTOMS EVEN SOONER). IT PRESENTS FIRST WITH THE LOSS OF COORDINATION OF ONE OF THE HIND LEGS AND OVER TIME WILL TYPICALLY WORSEN AND RESULT IN PARALYSIS OF BOTH HIND LEGS. MOST DOGS WILL BECOME INCONTINENT (BOTH BOWELS AND URINE - WHICH CAN LEAD TO URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS), AND OVER TIME, THIS DEBILITATING DISEASE WILL PROGRESS TO PARALYSIS IN THE FRONT LEGS, ORGAN FAILURE AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE. DM IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS MANY VETS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT DM. IT CAN BE PREVENTED BY GENETIC TESTING PRIOR TO BREEDING & MAKING WELL EDUCATED CHOICES!!! THE NUMBERS OF PUPS THAT ARE DEVELOPING IT NOW ARE GROWING!!! NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK FOR THE PUPS!!!

SHADE OUT DM FOUNDATION is a registered 501c3 charity that is 100% volunteer-run, with NO paid staff. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the ShadeOutDM Foundation, Inc., supporting our mission to raise awareness about Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) by attending veterinary conferences and events, contributing to DM research, and supporting KC's Kruisers Loaner Cart Program. This program provides high-quality loaner carts for dogs of all breeds and sizes in need.
Direct donations may be made thru the WWW.SHADEOUTDM.ORG [http://www.shadeoutdm.org] website.