Macomb Twp. Twosome Organize Walk-A-Thon for Service Dog

When Alyssa LaDuke, 18, watched a program on the Discovery Channel about dogs being trained to help people who have seizures she immediately thought of her uncle, Allen Russell. 

The Macomb Township teen grew up watching the horrible toll grand mal seizures took on Russell, now 46, and wanted to do something to help.

“He’s had several brain bleeds from falling and hitting his head and a dog will help him keep his balance or get help in case he’s alone,” LaDuke said.

Telling her uncle about the special service dog programs, LaDuke soon helped him file applications with several organizations that provide the uniquely trained canines. Russell’s application was recently accepted by Midwest Assistance Dogs, in South Bend, IN, and now they want to raise the $6,000 to bring the trained dog to Michigan.

Taking on the fundraising is something LaDuke will do along with her college roommate, Laura Rizzo, 19, also of Macomb Township. The duo will host a walk-a-thon at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at Metro Beach.

At the event, both runners and walkers will make their way along a two-mile trail and receive a stamp every time they complete a mile. The number of miles logged over a two-hour period will determine each person’s total pledge donation.  Participants are asked to email the teens to get a pledge sheet. They also note that water will be provided at the park and walkers can bring along their own dogs.

“Laura actually had the idea for the walk-at-hon and I’ve participated in them before but never put one on,” LaDuke said. “We wanted a location close to my uncle’s home (in Harrison Township) and a park that had really nice scenery, too.”

Having a good location, learning the best ways to promote the fund-raiser and working out all the details for the actual day are proving very educational for the women.

“We’ve been online looking for ideas and just getting the details for how things should go,” Rizzo said. “I think it’s the perfect thing to do for a fund-raiser and this was also the perfect opportunity to help out Alyssa’s uncle.”

The determined twosome will have all four of their parents helping out on walk-a-thon day along with some family friends.

“Overall, we are hoping that eventually the dog will be there to help even before a seizure happens, they are trained and can sense it,” LaDuke said. “And my uncle is very excited about all of this, too.”

“We are being optimistic, but if we don’t raise enough money at the walk-a-thon we’ll have other fund-raisers this summer until we do,” Rizzo added.

T-shirts designed with the logo, “Helping a friend gain a hero–Walkathon 2011” can be ordered for $10 by contacting the organizers at 586-291-6539 or 586-918-2202 by Friday, June 3. For those who can’t make the walk-a-thon, free will donations are gratefully accepted. For a pledge sheet send an email to walkathoninfo@yahoo.com.