SPD, shelter team up on 'Relay' walk

SANDPOINT — Everything is better with dogs, and 5K runs are no exception.

The Sandpoint Police Department is teaming up with Panhandle Animal Shelter for a 5K Wag ‘n’ Walk as a part of the Relay For Life. Event planners hope it will bring in some serious money for cancer research and place a few animals in homes. Set for this Saturday at Trinity near City Beach, participants can register starting at 8 a.m. before the 9 a.m. race. Participants will get a T-shirt and dog leash for their participation. The registration fee is $20 for a single person and $40 for a family. All proceeds will go toward the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.

The event first came about when the Police Chief Mark Lockwood learned that some officers and their families were interested in organizing a Relay For Life team. After discussions, however, the organizers decided to take things in a different direction.

“We came up with the idea of a 5K Wag ‘n’ Walk because no one has done anything with dogs before,” Lockwood said.

Lockwood mentioned the concept to Panhandle Animal Shelter executive director Mandy Evans, who offered to lend the nonprofit’s assistance. The shelter will arrive with plenty of friendly pooches available for those without dogs to walk. With any luck, some bond-forming along the 5K route will lead to a few adoptions.

Participants will cover the distance from Trinity at City Beach and move downtown, following Highway 95 until they reach the halfway point. Then it’s back along the same route to City Beach.

This will be the first time the police department has tried a charity event quite like this. Lockwood said they intend to learn from this year’s iteration and bring it back better than ever next year.

With so much good to be done and fun to be had, event planners are hoping to see a sizable turnout come Saturday morning.

“Hopefully a lot of folks will show up and we’ll raise a lot of money for the cure,” Lockwood said. “We’re looking to take a bite out of cancer.”