My name is Leo Lashock, and I will be running Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage, AK on June 20th and Humpy's in Anchorage, AK on Aug. 16th; in order to raise awareness and collect pledges for Loving Companions Animal Rescue to help unwanted, abandoned, and elderly pets live happy lives.
While I'll do the harder part and run both marathons, I ask that you do the important part, and send a pledge to help the animals live out their lives in comfort and joy.
Loving Companions Animal Rescue is a no kill, non-profit corporation created to save and care for unwanted, abandoned animals in the interior of the State of Alaska. It is located in North Pole, near Fairbanks. Loving Companions is designed to save from destruction those usually older pets that have become hard to place because of their age or disabilities. These once great pets and friends are no longer wanted by the general population. We strive to give them a warm, comfortable home and try to place them with a new family that will have the ability and desire to care for such an animal.. Staff are volunteers who receive no pay, work many hours to help the community and promote a better life for animals and offer the community an alternative to killing unwanted pets. In 2008, Loving Companions took in 745 animals and adopted out 561.
Loving Companions also runs a low cost spay and neuter clinic that serves the interior of Alaska, and beyond.
Please help...
| A little bit about myself. My name is Leo Lashock, and I live in Alaska. I am a dog musher/handler, firefighter, and veteran marathoner. I want to do something to help those older, unwanted, and abandoned pets that need to be taken care of. This is completely legitimate, you may call Loving Companions for yourself to verify it before you make a pledge. Thanks for caring. |
Please feel free to check back here for recent news - marathon results, training success or injuries, and how close we are to achieving our goal.
5/26/09 Training is going well. I ran a 1:33 half marathon this past weekend, and felt pretty good. Hoping to pick up the pace a bit.
6/06/09 - Arctic Valley Road Race. 12.6 miles - 6.3 up/6.3 down (sea level to 2,500'). Finished 6th overall, 2nd 40-49, time was 1:41:27. Quads took a pounding racing back down, several days to recover fully.
6/13/09 Last long(ish) run, 17 miles. Unfortunately, I did not get enough long runs in before this first marathon coming up next weekend. We'll see how it goes. Should still be in good shape for Humpy's Marathon in Aug., barring and injuries. Hoping to see more pledges too, as time marches on.
6/21/09 - Mayors Marathon. One down, one to go. I was able to run a 3:26, better than I actually expected with the training going into it. I was 69/915 overall, 8/66 in the age group. There's still time to help with a pledge. Any amount will help, it all counts. Now for a few days of recovery - then back to the training.
7/11/09 - Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival 5K. A nice 5k for a little speed work. Warm day, fun race - paved, gravel and trail. Ran a 19:53, finished the top 10.
7/25/09 - Arctic Warrior Half Marathon. Great event! Took place at Elmendorf Air Force base in Anchorage. The "starting gun" was an F-15 streaking past us about 20 feet off the ground just in front of the starting line (just after it crossed it soared straight up in the air!) Pretty wild. I felt well, ran a 1:26, and finished 7th overall. Good run - and good training for the upcoming marathon.
8/16/09 - Humpy's Marathon Mission accomplished. A decent run, didn't quite feel as good as I had hoped, but still very pleased with the results. I ended up running a 3:19. I was 9/222 overall (8/114 men), and 2/18 in my age group. I want to thank everyone who has supported this campaign so far; your help is greatly appreciated. I'd also like to remind those that haven't, that there's still time. We'll be collecting pledges through the end of August, so please try to send even a couple dollars. Everything helps.
ONE BY ONE ...
One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way. Way past her time, she can't run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way.
A little old lady, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.
When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.
I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart ... it will grieve.
And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.
by Leslie Whalen.
"dedicated to Bizzie, the furry little bigmouth that was part of my life for 17 years. I miss you Bizzie..."
Please note: The easiest and quickest way to send a pledge is by using your credit card here. It's also very safe. If, however, you feel you'd prefer to send a check in the mail, you can make your check out to Loving Companions Animal Rescue, and send it to: Leo Lashock, P.O. Box 1128, Willow AK 99688. Your pledge amount will still be added into the "Goal" total here.
|
|
|
|
Total Donations: $880
Goal: $3,000
|
|
|
|
