COVID-19 Pandemic Nixed Popular Springtime Fundraiser—but Runners and Sponsors Laced up and Stood Out!
BOSTON, June 1, 2020 – The Coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to safely stage the MSPCA-Angell’s annual Fast and Furriest 5K Run, Walk, Wag, but runners and sponsors stepped up anyway, raising just over $110,000 to support the organization’s animal care programs during the first-ever virtual rendition of the event.
Participants signed up to run and walk virtual 5Ks during April and May and used the hashtag #MSPCAFastAndFurriest to encourage friends and family to donate towards their efforts—and to the many thousands of animals and people the MSPCA helps every year by way of its adoption, advocacy, law enforcement and veterinary programs.
One of the runners who took part this year is Diane Pelletier of Salem, New Hampshire. The longtime MSPCA volunteer and adopter arranged a socially distanced 5K with friends, and shared video and photos to her socials.
“Nothing can replace the fun of gathering with hundreds of others at the Fast and Furriest, but these are extraordinary times—so I was more than happy to adapt, especially if it means raising money for animals, a cause that is near and dear to my heart.”
Pelletier raised over $1,000, earning her a Fast and Furriest fleece, and qualified her for prizes such as an Amazon Fire, a waterproof 1080 action camera, and a Google Chromecast.
The event, which the MSPCA initially believed would raise about $75,000, would not have been possible without the generous support from sponsors that included TD Bank, Antech, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Embark, Zoetis, Elanco, Merck, Stallergenes Greer and Cedar’s Foods.
The MSPCA-Angell expects the live version of the Fast and Furriest to return to Somerville in the spring of 2021.
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