Relay for Life of Carroll County will be holding its 4th-annual Bark for Life event at Atwood Lake Park on Saturday, August 17th. (Relay for Life of Carroll County)

MINERAL CITY (Tusco TV) - Relay for Life of Carroll County officials are inviting community members to join them for a unique fundraiser that’s all about dogs.

The organization will be holding its fourth-annual Bark for Life event at Atwood Lake Park on Saturday, August 17th. Event spokesperson Wendy Rainsberger it starts at 6 pm with a K9 demonstration and children’s games and ends at sundown with a luminaria ceremony, with plenty of canine-related fun in between.

“It’s basically an event for humans to come out with their canine companions, and we focus the event kind of all about the dogs. We have a good time. The dogs can’t actually be literally on the beach until 7 o’clock but we entertain the crowd from 6 to 7,” she says.

Rainsberger says the actual event starts in typical Relay for Life fashion, with opening ceremonies at 7 followed by a survivors lap at 7:15. She says after that is the real fun begins.

“We have a doggie costume contest and a dog talent contest and then from about 7:30 the beach opens up for the dogs to go swimming, and they can swim up until the close of the event,” she says.

Rainsberger says it’s just a fun way to raise some extra dollars for the fight against cancer.

“We have a really good time. It’s one of these events that we enjoy coming out and putting on for everybody, and it is for a good cause. We’re raising awareness and funds for research for American Cancer Society, and it gives us a chance to let our hair down and have a good time as well,” she says.

The cost to participate is $10 for the first dog and $5 for each additional dog, and Rainsberger says the first 50 dogs registered get a free bandana. She says people can sign up in person at the event, or they can pre-register online at www.relayforlife.org/barkcarrollcoOH.

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV