Running for Red Paw

This is Short Rib. 
In April 2015, a house fire in Philadelphia left Short Rib, his mom and his humans without a home. None of his siblings survived. Red Paw Emergency Relief Team was called to the scene and they cared for the cats while the humans set about getting their lives back in order. Sadly, Short Rib's injuries were too much for his little body; however, his mom recovered and was reunited with her humans. 

Within days of hearing Short Rib's story, I registered for the Philadelphia Marathon (11/22/15). I'm going to run 26.2 miles in Short Rib's memory and to raise funds in support of Red Paw as it continues to provide emergency assistance to injured and displaced pets like Short Rib. 

WHAT IS RED PAW
Red Paw is an emergency services, nonprofit organization that works in conjunction with the American Red Cross, Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and other public and private disaster relief organizations to provide emergency assistance including search & rescue, emergency transport, shelter, and veterinary care to animals involved in fires and other residential disasters.
WHAT DOES RED PAW DO?
If you're like me, pets are family, and if a fire or other disaster were to strike our home, I can't fathom having to abandon my furry family members. 
Fortunately for Philadelphians, Red Paw is there to rescue, care for and reunite pets with their humans. I think Red Paw's mission is nothing less than extraordinary: to provide relief and recovery for displaced pets and their people 24/7, free of charge and to ensure that all family members are taken care of during and after a disaster in their home.
It doesn't matter to Red Paw if the pet is a dog, cat, bird, turtle, bunny, iguana, or even a horse. If they get a report of an animal displaced by a residential disaster, they are on the scene.
Red Paw is part of the City of Philadelphia’s Emergency Response Plan, which means that when disaster strikes, pets are not an after-thought. The humans have the fire department and the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance and their pets have Red Paw!
MY RUN:
As winter nears, fires and other residential disasters will increase, and Red Paw needs donations to cover emergency medical bills for injured pets. With your help, we can ensure that Red Paw will be there to assist displaced pets and get them reunited with their humans.

I'm not new to running, but I'm not a really avid runner either. I've run three half-marathons and completed a marathon in 2012, but I haven't laced up my shoes since...until now. I'm older, the runs are harder, my body aches longer, and recovery is slower. But I think what Red Paw does for Philadelphia is more than worth the effort, and I hope you do, too. Please donate and support Red Paw Emergency Relief Team!