St. Petersburg Walkathon video available here
(Palmetto, Fla.)–Southeastern Guide Dogs made history on Saturday at the St. Petersburg Walkathon in Vinoy Park. A world record-breaking 885 dogs came out to show off their bandanas and be counted–shattering the previous milestone of 860 dogs wearing bandanas at a single event.
“We are so excited to have broken the world record for the largest number of dogs wearing bandanas at a single event, previously held in Scotland,” said Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman. “Our wonderful friends and volunteers–both two-and-four-legged–showed up in St. Petersburg when it really counted to support our superhero guide and service dogs that save the day, everyday, for the people who need them: those with vision loss and veterans with disabilities.”
Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Walkathons raise more than a million dollars each year to support the life-transforming programs that are always provided at no cost. The bandana challenge will continue, as the public is invited to bring their dogs to three additional Walkathon world-record breaking attempts coming up in March and April:
Suncoast Walkathon – March 16, 2019 | Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL (combines Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch)
Orlando Walkathon – April 13, 2019 | Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs, FL
Tampa Walkathon – April 27, 2019 | Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL
(P.S. Join us at our Fort Myers Walkathon, too, where we’ll have our fun, family-friendly, dog-friendly festival without the world-record attempt.)
Fort Myers Walkathon – April 13, 2019 | jetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL
About Southeastern Guide Dogs
Southeastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nurturing extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. Our organization employs some of the most talented and innovative scientists and trainers in the working-dog industry and operates the most advanced training facilities of any service dog organization in the world. Our experts train guide dogs, service dogs, and skilled companion dogs for people with visual impairments, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or loss of a parent in the military.
All of Southeastern Guide Dogs’ services—which include selective breeding and expert dog training and conditioning; comprehensive on-campus student instruction; and lifetime alumni support—are provided at no cost to the recipients. We rely 100 percent on private donations and receive no government funding. Southeastern Guide Dogs has the distinction of being dually accredited by the two premier, global accreditation bodies: the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Learn more at www.GuideDogs.org.
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