An 8-year-old Girl Rides Her Bike and Raises $160.41 for Neurology Service
Jenna and "Timmy"
When 8-year-old Jenna from Washington State saw her beloved 18-month-old
English Mastiff, "Timmy" suffering from Wobbler disease, a degenerative
condition of the cervical spine that causes unsteadiness and eventually loss of
mobility, she wanted to do something to help. So she decided to ride her bike
for Timmy.
"Lots of people do bike rides to raise money and they raise a lot of money,"
said Jenna, who is now 9 years old and in the third grade. She came up with the
idea after seeing another little girl raising money for people who needed clean
water in Africa.
Jenna and her family decided to give the money to the WSU College of
Veterinary Medicines Neurology Service, because their veterinarian had made a
donation to the WSU Pet
Memorial Fund in honor of "Wallace," their beloved bull mastiff golden
retriever mix that passed last year just a few days before Christmas.
"We chose to donate to the vet school because of the kind letter we received
from the college," said Jenna’s mom, Christina.
After they lost Wallace, they wanted another Mastiff and turned to a Mastiff
rescue group. Jenna’s family adopted Timmy when he was a year old. Although he
had some physical difficulties, the family was initially told it was not Wobbler
disease. Sadly, they later discovered he did have the disease.
Despite the heartache of adopting a sick dog, Jenna saw the bright side. She
told her parents that had they known he was so ill, Timmy would never have
become part of their family. And although Jenna knows that the money can’t help
Timmy, she and her family hope that by giving it to the
WSU Neurology
Service, other animals with neurological disorders can be helped.
In the end, Jenna raised $160.41, surpassing her goal of $100. Her family and
friends generously donated to her 10- mile ride that she made on August 14,
2011. And even Jenna’s younger sister, Ashley, did her part.
"Ashley emptied her piggy bank and gave it to Jenna," said Jenna’s mom
Christina.
Generosity and kindness runs in the family.
