‘Paws for a Cause’ Honors the Memory of Sarah Jayne Orton
Sarah Jayne Orton was a little girl with a huge heart but her precious life was cut short in October of 2013, just a few months after her fifth birthday. When she became ill, Sarah's parents were initially told that she just had a regular run of the mill bug, but that little bug grew into something much more serious- sepsis. Sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body and can be deadly. Sarah got sick on a Tuesday night and by Thursday, her light was snuffed out. Sarah's aunt, Nicole Matthews, told the Baltimore Sun, "The doctor said getting this type of condition is almost like getting hit by lightning."
Sarah might have been just a little girl, but she was a mighty one who loved animals in a huge way. As a matter of fact, for her fifth birthday, Sarah requested that instead of gifts, her friends and family give her donations for the animal shelter where she adopted her own pup.
When word got around about this precious angel, her love for animals, and her desire to help, donations started flooding into the animal shelter from all over the world. After her death, Sarah's family wanted to keep her memory and her mission alive and so they created the Sarah Jayne Orton Memorial Foundation.
Every year since Sarah passed away, her family and friends have held at least one event to benefit local shelter animals. Sarah Jayne Orton Paws For a Cause Inc. is an officially licensed 501(c)(3) organization and all funds raised through various events are distributed between the Baltimore Humane Society and Stray Haven, here in New York.
The 5th Annual Sarah's Cause For Paws fundraiser will be held at Hickories Park in Owego on Saturday, October 5th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and you don’t need to have a dog to attend. However, if you do have a dog, there will be a one-mile dog walk (registration is at 11 a.m.). There will also be pet costume contests, vendors, a blessing of the animals, music, food, and more.
This event will be held rain or shine. If you can’t make it, but want to make a donation, you’re invited to register and collect donations from your friends, family, and co-workers.