Buzzards Bay Eagles Hosts Toka's Friends Canal Walk Fundraiser Saturday
Toka’s Canal Walk, a fundraising event organized by the Buzzards Bay Eagles, will take place tomorrowthis Saturday, May 18, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Buzzards Bay Park.
The Buzzards Bay Eagles Aerie #3741 hosts a fundraiser walk along the Cape Cod Canal each year, with a new beneficiary being chosen annually by the state presidents elected by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
This year’s walk will raise money and awareness for Toka’s Friends, a nonprofit volunteer organization that trains and provides service dogs to military veterans at no cost to assist with difficulties, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries.
Community members are invited to attend the walk, which will take place along the Cape Cod Canal, by registering online. Walker registration fee is $30, and will help support the mission of Toka’s Friends. Walkers may register by visiting bit.ly/tokareg.
Those who are unable to join the walk but would like to make a donation may do so online by visiting www.buzzardsbayeagles.com or bit.ly/tokawalk.
Toka’s Friends was chosen as the beneficiary of this year’s Canal Walk by James McCormack, who was elected State Worthy President at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles annual state convention last summer.
Toka’s Friends, according to its website, exists because “we realize that our freedom and security come at a considerable price to the men and women who serve in our military.” Toka’s Friends says it believes in the healing power of dogs and their companionship, and that trained service dogs are known to help substantially improve the quality of life for veterans living with PTSD. Additionally, its website notes that approximately 18 military veterans commit suicide each day, and as many as 20 percent of all veterans suffer from PTSD.
To that end, the nonprofit works to pair qualifying veteran applicants with service dogs that have been trained and raised by volunteer foster families, at no cost to the veteran. Fundraisers like the Toka’s Canal Walk help support the group’s mission, the website says, as 100 percent of funds raised or donated helps to cover veterinary costs, food, supplies and professional dog trainers.
Mr. McCormack told the Enterprise last summer that he chose Toka’s Friends because the cause is personal to him. Two people close to him, he explained, took their lives after serving in the armed forces. He said he stumbled upon it almost accidentally, when one of Toka’s furry friends caught his eye and that of his wife. When Mr. McCormack looked deeper into the charity and its mission, he said, he “just knew” that Toka’s Friends was the right choice.
More information on Toka’s Friends can be found at www.tokasfriends.org.