WHITE LAKE — The third “Bark for Life” event held in the state of North Carolina will be held Saturday in White Lake. It’s a team event of canines and their owners to raise money and have a lot of fun. All the proceeds of the event will go to the American Cancer Society.

“Bark For Life” will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. Activities will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. Denise Cross, chairperson of the event, will co-chair the event with two Pekingese from the Harrells community. Punky and Petie will also begin the event with the first lap around the track. One of the two females has had cancer herself and undergone chemotherapy. 

Everyone registering will receive a “Bark for Life” tee shirt and a bandanna for their pet and treat bags for the canines.   

Similar to the Relay for Life event along the track stations will be set up for the pleasures and health of the canines.  Located in several places along the track will be water pails for the pets. A grooming station will provide nails clipped and polished for a $5 donation. Raffle tickets will be sold for a drawing of the contributed items. 

“These stations will give the owners and pets a chance to visit and rest if they need to,” Cross said. “We would like to discourage those who have a canines that is in season and those with aggressive behaviors and attitudes.

“With a $5 donation you may purchase a ‘Lost Paws’ message of a pet that has been an important member of your family. It will be displayed on the Barking Lot Christmas tree during the holiday season and then moved to the Relay for Life.

“We have more than 16 volunteers and staff to help with this worthy event on Saturday and are hoping for a great turnout.” 

The canines will compete in a game similar to the game of musical chairs. The last dog in the circle to sit on comand will be out of the game and so on. 

With a $5 donation you may place your pet into the Halloween Parade of Costumes, all the pets will receive a gift.

It is $10 to pre-register for the event in person at the Barking Lot and on the Web at www.relayforlife.org/bladennc or $25 the day of the event.  

Eric Heydorn, community manager for Relay for Life, will be at the event on Saturday. Heydorn is in charge of Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Bladen counties.