‘Hoomans', get ready!  Your fur babies are now excited to take a safety run toward their fur friends' future...one that'd be full of fun!

Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a non-profit and non-government organization known for rescuing animals in need, has opened the registration for this year's virtual Run Fur Life (RFL).

 From December 20 to 31, all ages can join the run and pick whether they could go solo (Hooman only) or with their fur baby (Hooman+Pet), with 1K or 3K distance as options. Participants from all parts of the country are allowed to run anywhere while following COVID-19 protocols during the run dates. 

For only P700, registrants will get a run kit inclusive of a DriFit RFL Shirt, a doggie bandana, a custom-made AKF facemask, and an AKF drawstring bag; all will be delivered for free right at their doorsteps. The best part beyond the fun? Through the registration fee, participants can extend help to AKF's rescued animals because every registrant is equivalent to a month of sponsorship for one AKF rescued dog. 

AKF's Run Kits. Courtesy: Animal Kingdom Foundation

This year's event is tagged #RunFurABetterTomorrow as it "gives hope for a better future for the people and for the animals." AKF will hold a culmination event next year on January 8 to award the winners their prizes. They will also conduct an online raffle and will give away exciting goodies to lucky winners courtesy of their event sponsors. 

In an online interview with Christian Bondoc, events manager and lead volunteer of AKF, he revealed that participants could look forward to thrilling online contests like the best photo awards. 

"We can proudly say that the RFL is the most awaited AKF event every year. It has been a fun bonding activity with the family, friends, loved ones, and of course with their pets. It's a great feeling for the participants to enjoy and be able to help a cause at the same time," Bondoc said.

Run Fur Life's starting point

AKF launched Run Fur Life in 2016. Their mission of rescuing dogs from Dog Meat Trades led the team to think of an event that can provide funds for this advocacy; all while still rescuing other stray animals, providing them home at their shelter located in Capas, Tarlac, and later on putting them for adoption.

"We are an NGO and getting funding for our operations has always been a challenge," Bondoc said. "The cost of maintaining a shelter with hundreds of animals is high and we should always think of fundraising activities to be able to provide for our rescues."

With the help of one of AKF's partner events organizers, Paws and Tails Events, the name Run Fur Life took its starting point. Bondoc said the word ‘life' in the term ‘Run Fur Life' symbolizes their commitment to helping make the countless lives of animals better by rescuing and saving them from being slaughtered for human consumption.

During the ‘fur run'

AKF's Bondoc shared that the organization did not expect the first edition of Run Fur Life to deliver an absolute success. More than 400 runners mobbed the fun run held at Quezon City Memorial Circle in 2016 and other pet brands sponsored the event.

"It was the first ever fun run with pets in PH and many pet owners were really excited to participate," Bondoc said.  

Run Fur Life 2016. Courtesy: Paws & Tails Event Concepts and Management

Because of the first year's success, AKF continued the event once a year and launched different themes in each edition to make the experience more exciting. From the bubble fun run in 2016, the theme shifted to Hydro run in 2017, Headgears and Tails in 2018, and Campus Edition in 2019. The number of participants has escalated every year. This gave AKF an opportunity to extend their help in other causes such as "rescue of maltreated and abandoned animals, stray feeding, animal pound rehabilitations, disaster response and many other missions."

"We were able to help feed stray animals during the pandemic, the animals affected by Taal Volcano Eruption, the animals abandoned during the Marawi War, the animals affected by typhoons such as Rolly and Ulysses which devastated so many homes," Bondoc said.

Aside from the direct help to animals, Bondoc shared that raising awareness on animal welfare in the country and teaching people, especially kids who join the event, about giving compassion for animals is a meaningful accomplishment of the program. 

Run in the time of COVID-19 

Run Fur Life 2020. Courtesy: Animal Kingdom Foundation

When the pandemic hit the country, AKF started to conduct the Run Fur Life in a virtual format since social gatherings are prohibited.

Bondoc shared that because of the pandemic, they started to receive limited shelter visitors and donors. The numbers of participants in the Run Fur Life also slightly decreased in 2020 since others still prefer an actual fun run.

"The pandemic is an even more challenging time to do an event, we have very limited fundraising events now and we have to adapt and find ways to do our events so we can sustain our shelter and continue our mission," Bondoc said.

In order to gather many participants amid these trying times, AKF volunteers have started emailing past participants, inviting their friends and followers, and promoting the event on all of their social media platforms since last year.

"Our selling point is always making people aware of why they are joining RFL," Bondoc said. "It's for the hapless animals."

Despite the rough roads their mission has been enduring, AKF is thankful that many advocates still join and support their run for the betterment of their rescued animals.

One of the participants in this year's event is Gellie Estrada, 32, from Quezon City. In a phone interview, she shared that this run will be her first as this will also serve as a tribute to her 8-year-old dog, Travis, who passed away just last October 26 because of cancer.

"‘Yong value ni Travis is sobrang priceless, sobrang unmatched. [Kaya] I need to do this talaga kahit na hindi ako runner… This will give me gratitude for giving me 8-years of constant happiness na something worth treasuring," Estrada stated. 

Gellie with Travis. Courtesy: Gellie Estrada

AKF's Bondoc said that by simply joining the said fun run, people will make a big difference in the lives of animals as well as in volunteers' as it would make them feel that they are not alone in accomplishing their mission.

"Animals need humans to be their voice, they rely on us for their survival, they cannot speak and they cannot help themselves. All funds raised after this activity will go straight to helping animals in need." Bondoc said.

AKF is currently taking care of more than 200 animals at their shelter, including dogs, cats, goats, and pigs that they rescued during the Taal Eruption last year.

Before-and-after photo of their rescued dog. Photo courtesy: Animal Kingdom Foundation

For those who want to participate in this year's Run Fur Life event of the Animal Kingdom Foundation, you can register here.

Want to donate instead? Here are AKF's details:

GCASH - 0947 999 1678

BDO - 0069 1011 0365

Swift code: BNORPHMM

Br Code: 00691

BPI - 1681 0015 88

Swift code: BOPIPHMM

Paypal - [email protected]

RCBC Current - 0046010931

---CONTRIBUTED

The author, Mary Joy, is an intern at Inquirer Mobile. She's fond of writing stories that could catalyze a good change in the life story of others. She also loves reading novels and non-fiction books about life as well as being a mother to her two dogs and three cats.