Compassion in Motion: Helping Local Cancer Patients One Run at a Time 🐾💗

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; a time to raise awareness, support those going through treatment, remember those we've lost, and come together as a community.

For Bend Barks & Rec, October also carries a very personal meaning.

It's a chance to share one of the most important parts of our mission:

Compassion in Motion

We believe movement can be good for both dogs and people. But sometimes, getting out for a walk isn't as simple as putting on your shoes and grabbing the leash.

Cancer treatment can change everything.

Chemotherapy appointments. Radiation treatments. Surgeries and recovery. Exhaustion. Long days. And all the unexpected challenges that can come along with treatment.

And through all of it, many people are still caring for their dogs.

That's where Compassion in Motion comes in.

A Little Movement. A Little Joy. A Lot of Heart.

Through Compassion in Motion, Bend Barks & Rec provides complimentary dog gym runs to local people actively going through cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and post-surgical recovery.

Our hope is simple: Give their dogs a chance to get moving, while giving their humans one less thing to worry about.

A 30-minute run for a dog might not sound like a huge thing, but sometimes small things matter.

Maybe it means one less walk to fit into an exhausting day.

Maybe it means knowing their pup is getting exercise when their own energy is limited.

Maybe it's simply 30 minutes of seeing their dog happy, moving, and being their goofy self.

And sometimes, a little joy is exactly what we need.

Helping Us Build the Compassion in Motion Fund

We're working to build a dedicated Compassion in Motion Fund so we can continue providing these complimentary sessions to local cancer patients.

This isn't about one person doing something big. It's about a community doing lots of little things together.

Every contribution helps us put more complimentary runs within reach of people who are navigating cancer treatment right here in Central Oregon.

And this October, we're asking our Bend and Redmond community to help us keep that movement going.

We'll Be Walking for a Reason

On October 4, we'll be participating in the Heaven Can Wait walk in the Bend/Redmond community. We'll be there with our hearts full, our walking shoes on, and our mission front and center because cancer affects far more people than the person receiving the diagnosis.

It affects families.

Friends.

Coworkers.

Caregivers.

And communities.

We want Compassion in Motion to be one small way Bend Barks & Rec can show up for ours.

Help Us Keep Compassion in Motion

Whether you donate, share our mission, tell someone about the program, or simply follow along this month, you are helping us spread the word.

And if you know someone currently going through chemotherapy, radiation, or recovering from cancer surgery who could benefit from complimentary runs for their dog, we'd love for you to tell them about Compassion in Motion.

Because sometimes taking care of the person also means taking care of the dog who never leaves their side.

Let's keep compassion moving.

💗🐾

IN EVERY SEASON. IN ANY LOCATION.

RUN READY!

— Bend Barks & Rec