Residents of the Avalon Retirement Centre are getting ready to demonstrate their dog-walking skills this Friday.

Non-stop from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., more than 80 residents at Avalon will be participating in a Walk-a-dog-a-thon to help raise money for the Orangeville branch of the Ontario SPCA.

The walk will start in the Avalon courtyard. The parking lot of the church behind the facility will be used as part of the course to make sure all the participants are safe from cars and traffic.

“We do have dogs from St. John ambulance and therapeutic paws that come and visit our residents,” said Sarah Murray, Avalon’s activity director. “There’s also going to be dogs that family members will bring in also some dogs from staff members and a few SPCA dogs as well.”

The day will begin with a few words from Mayor Rob Adams, MP David Tilson, a representative from SPCA and Sarah Slater, the centre’s Assistant Director of Nursing. There will be a ribbon cutting and than they will release the Avalon residents.

Participating residents will be scheduled to walk or wheel every 10 minutes with family, staff, volunteers and their own fourlegged friend.

Between 12 noon and 1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., the residents will be counting on other volunteers to pick up the slack as they break for “Power Hours”.

“We can’t have the residents walking during their meal times,” said Ms. Murray. “Because we want to keep this going the full 12 hours that’s when we are trying to get some people in to fill in those times while the residents are eating.”

Ms. Murray commented that some town councilors have been contacted to help fill up those hours. However, anyone who would like to walk is welcome to join in.

“Most of our residents will be sponsored; there may be one of two who aren’t,” said Ms. Murray. “Anyone from the community can phone in or drop by to sponsor a resident.”

The staff at Avalon are aware of which residents have sponsors and who does not. They will take sponsorships and donations over the phone.

There will also be a bake sale and silent auctions. Ms. Murray said traditional bake sale items will be available as well as baked goods donated by the dietary department at Avalon. Staff and family members will be preparing the baked goods, but they will take food donations as well.

The silent auction will be located in the first floor lobby. Anyone who is interested can bid on the available items. Whoever is the highest bidder will be contacted to come and get their item.

Family members, residents and local businesses of all kinds have donated the items in the silent auctions. They are not only dog related items. There is a spa set, wall mirrors, jewelry, movie tickets etc. The pet stores that have donated items have donated dog treats, food, dog bowls etc.

Ms. Murray said all money raised from the Walk-a-dog-a-thon, the bake sale and the auction will be going to the local OSPCA branch.

“People are always coming in and looking after them and helping them and they really like to be helping others,” said Ms. Murray. “It gives the residents a good feeling of helping out.”