American Red Cross dog walking challenge helps those in need

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — By walking 30 miles with your dog, you can help the American Red Cross save lives and bring relief to those in need.

It’s part of their 30-Mile Dog Walk Challenge for April. Once you join the challenge, it will activate a virtual fundraiser on your Facebook page.

The goal is to raise money for the Red Cross so they can support people impacted by disasters big and small. Just by walking 30 miles with your dog in April and posting your progress, you could encourage donations from your Facebook friends.

Since 2021, the Red Cross has hosted Facebook Challenges throughout the year to help people affected by disasters big and small including floods, wildfires, and countless other crises. Together, this community has raised over $1.4 million for disaster relief.

“The Red Cross Disaster relief is responding to 60,000 disasters every year across the country, and the majority of those are home fires that we see all the time in our local communities,” Nicole Roschella, Regional Communications Director of the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region said.

The challenge inspired people like Suzanne Gindlesperger who lives in Cambria County. She’s not an avid walker but wanted to participate anyway. She’ll be helping spread the word by walking with her dog Coco.

“I believe in Red Cross. That’s the first thing. I’m not really good at fundraisers, but this was important to me. Secondly, just for my own benefit, I must start exercising. And walking, I’m told, is the best way to do it,” Gindlesperger said.

Suzanne is planning to walk 1 mile each day to complete the challenge. Her family was skeptical at first when she told them about it, but said they’ll support her through it all.

“Every day. Yeah, we’ll go all the time. Make sure she sticks with it,” her husband Jim said.

However, if you don’t have a dog and still want to join the challenge, you can. Any amount of money you can fundraise will help.

“So big or small, you know, even if you end up raising $30 through your fundraiser, that’s 30 more than we had before. So that’s awesome,” Roschella said.

To learn more or register, visit the Red Cross Facebook Challenges page. It is completely free to join and even though the challenge has officially started, it’s not too late to register.

The Red Cross will also send you a doggie bandana after you receive your first donation.