'Spread the Words' 5K, Fun Run Set For Oct. 29

SUWANEE, GA -- The Jonny & Xena’s Spread the Words Foundation, Inc. will host its 2nd annual Spread the Words 5K/Fun Run on Saturday.

The event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at Suwanee Town Center, and will benefit animal rescue and autism programs in the metro Atlanta area.

Special guests include dog trainer and television personality Victoria Stillwell, star of the hit Animal Planet television show “It’s Me or the Dog.”

The event is also a way for the foundation to “give back to the community that has supported its efforts and embraced the story of Jonny and Xena.”

The story involves Xena, a severely battered and abused dog nursed back to health, and a young boy with autism who led a quiet life with little outside interaction.

Jonny’s parents, Grant and Linda Hickey, ardent animal lovers who reside in Johns Creek, adopted the dog in 2013 and, “as she was being nursed to health, opened a door for Jonny that they thought would never allow the light of day to shine through,” the organization added.

Since the transformation, Xena the Warrior Puppy has become a sensation in her own right, and was named the ASPCA Dog of the Year in 2013. She was also given the American Humane Association’s Emerging Hero Dog of the Year in 2014, named an American Kennel Club’s ACE Exemplary Companion and awarded the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Excellence in Service for her dedication to Georgia’s at-risk youth.

Participants can choose between a 5K, which will start at 9 a.m. in front of Suwanee City Hall, and a 1-mile Fun Run that will kick off at 10 a.m. Of course, don’t forget to bring your furry friends to the event.

For those who are not inclined to lace up their running shoes or will not be in the area during the event, there is an opportunity to participate in a Virtual 5K and support the cause. Registration can be done online, at the Suwanee Town Center Big Peach Running location or -- for the procrastinators -- on race day beginning at 8 a.m.

Pre-registration cost is $30 for the 5K race and $25 for the Fun Run, and includes a T-shirt. Virtual 5K options begin at $30, and are open to participants around the world.

Awards include medals based on race times and category (overall male/female and standard age groups). The top dog in the 5K will receive a trophy. Participants in the Fun Run will receive a ribbon when they cross the finish line.

For more information, visit the Xena The Warrior Puppy Facebook page or call (770) 851-0642.

Image via Patch