LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and Their Teams Participate in Annual Virtual Run for Respect for Pontiac Township High School, Illinois

Fifty-six LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams from twenty-two states participated in the 9th Annual Virtual Run for Respect for Pontiac Township High School (Illinois) Peers in Action from their home communities the weekend of April 17-18.
 
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams from all across the country enjoyed walking together to support our friends of the Life Skills class at Pontiac Township High School.

Laura Baumgardner, teacher of the Life Skills class at Pontiac Township High School and Director of the 5K Run for Respect, shared this with us:

“I have been pretty overwhelmed with emotion all weekend. All of the LCC teams have gone above and beyond. I just wanted you to know what a difference the Comfort Dogs are making in my students' lives. The outpouring of pictures, emails, and messages has been nothing short of amazing! We are learning so much, and we love how our message of Respect has been shared with so many!
 
The message of the Run for Respect, in the beginning, was to end the use of the r-word (retard) and to replace it with respect. However, our message has evolved into Spread the Word Inclusion and Respect for All. It is now an Action, and you all have made it so! I think it is so exciting to think about how many people have been included in this message. Thank you for this!
 
Today we received the box for Michael. He was beyond thrilled. Michael came to us last year, right before the pandemic started. He had never been to public school before. He has come so far! And this was the first package he has ever received in his life! We are going to laminate the letter Team Zoara wrote him. Please know what a huge deal this was to him.
 
Again thank you for all that you do and have done to make this so successful and meaningful! I really hope that one day I can meet you in person."
 
Laura Baumgardner
Life Skills Special Education Teacher
Pontiac Township High School, Illinois

It was much fun for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams to walk the 5K Run for Respect. The teams shared laughter, companionship, and the joy of walking with God as they completed their trek.
 
We are very grateful to Laura Baumgardner for inviting LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams to be part of this event. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams have enjoyed meeting the Life Skills students through their Zoom visits and sharing the places the Comfort Dogs live and visit with the class.

LCC never goes where we are not invited. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve.

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