Give them a doggone chance

Inspired by the blind dog Ringo, a group of canine lovers will join forces to host a 24-hour charity dancethon next weekend.

Organised by sisters Sarita Barnett and Janice Shaw, the K9 Dancethon runs at the Grand Hyatt Dubai next Friday and Saturday, and aims to raise funds for the K9 Friends. The event features live performances by resident singer-songwriter Glenn Perry, local bands Beneath the Remains, Symmetry, and Point of View; and DJs Hansel, Zeshan and Roger Hiton. The dance floor will be open for teams and individuals – but volunteers must be sponsored for every hour they dance. Sponsorship fees range from Dh5 to Dh5,000, depending on what participants can afford.

"The idea is to raise funds, not stop people from having fun while they participate in a worthy cause," says Sarita. "The event is open to all ages. We would love to see participation from schools, companies and social clubs."

All proceeds from the event will go to K9 Friends.

Sarita says the inspiration for the event was their dog, Ringo. She and her husband Phil first heard of K9 Friends when the shelter rescued a blind dog, and the couple decided to offer it a home. "We already have five dogs and were not looking for another," she says. "But Ringo's story touched our hearts. For the first time in her life, she's learning to feel the grass under her feet and is mixing with new brothers and sisters in a happy household."

Sarita, Phil and Janice on their visit to K9 felt they could do more for the organisation. They decided on a dancethon to tap into the local community spirit and galvanise others into action.

So far, the team has enlisted the support of hotels and companies which have donated prizes to be raffled off throughout the event. The organisers are still waiting for confirmation from other bands, DJs and individuals who can offer their time.