Gulliver’s Run is an annual trail running event (walkers also participate) that honors the memory of Gulliver Rue, a brave Hungarian Vizsla who raced against canine lymphoma for the last 13 months of his life. The purpose of the race is to raise funds for canine cancer research. Held the first Sunday of November each year on the trails of Gifford Pinchot State Park in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, this family-friendly event, organized by the Heycock family, commemorates the close bond between running mates John Heycock and Gulliver. That bond is a reflection of what countless families experience everyday with other beloved dogs. Gulliver’s Run gives people the chance to “fight back” against the common enemy of canine cancer.
Since 2013, Gulliver’s Run has raised more than $74,000 and Animal Cancer Foundation is delighted to have been chosen the 2021 beneficiary of the event which this year raised an incredible $15,000 for Animal Cancer Foundation’s canine comparative oncology research.
Each year, in addition to the 5k Trail Run/Walk, Gulliver’s Run offers a children’s event, Duncan’s Dash, as well as presenting the Hobie Award to the family whose battle against canine cancer best exemplifies the spirit of Gulliver’s Run. Also awarded on race day is the “Gulliver’s Challenge” Trophy, a travelling trophy given on a one-year rotation to the central Pennsylvania veterinary practice whose team provides the largest team donation to the event. This family-oriented event has food, music, raffles, a photo booth, and many special awards for both dogs and the people who enjoy the day with them.
ACF Executive Director Barbara Cohen says, “We gratefully thank the Heycock family and the Gulliver’s Run volunteers and participants, as their efforts provide essential funds for our comparative research programs. They also lift-up the entire local community by providing a family wellness event that brings everyone together to enjoy the park, increasing awareness of pet cancer and the benefits of comparative oncology research, and by showing other families of pets battling cancer that they are not alone.”