Wet Paws Can't Stop Year 6 Of Jr's 5K In Natick

NATICK, MA — It was a wet Sunday for a run, but wet paws and soppy sneakers didn't stop runners and their dogs from participating in Jr's Paws For a Cause 5K in Natick.

The race, organized by Jr's Paws For a Cause, featured roughly 500 runners, according to founder Lauren Barbo. It is run to support various causes, all of them centering around canine cancer, its research and causes benefitting animal rescue.

In 2023, the organization donated funds to four organizations: Project Samana, Shultz Guest House, Kyle‘s, Legacy, Inc. and Ruff Tales Rescue.

These funds are donated in the name of Junior, the namesake of the organization. Junior was a six-year-old labrador retriever who died after being diagnosed with lymphoma.

Junior was also the dog of founder Lauren Barbo, who changed the name of the dog-friendly 5K in honor of her pup in 2018.

"This organization was named after my labrador retriever Junior who I lost to lymphoma and I am honored to host these events in his legacy," said Barbo.

The event was originally called Paws For a Cause, and the first event was hosted in 2016 after Barbo worked with Project Samana for the first time.

"Living with a purpose is the most valuable thing one can do and I am honored and humbled to be able to host this event," said Barbo.

"My goal is one day we will have a cure to canine cancer and every rescue dog will have a home.. Until then we will continue our efforts."

This year's race showed major growth for the organization, roughly doubling the number of participants from last year's race, when 250 people and their dogs ran the Natick 5K.

"The growth of the event has been very humbling," said Barbo.

Below are photos from the event, all courtesy of Jr's Paws For a Cause: