Paws for thought: Attorney to run 24 races in a day to support dog rescue charities

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

A self-termed “crazy” runner, retired attorney Dan Egeler is once again using that passion to support dog rescue charities.

Egeler’s event, the “WagginBarkRace” (subtitled “24hrs of LeDan”) features 24 5K races in 24 hours, with the goal of raising $100,000—double last year’s goal when Egeler ran four marathons in 24 hours.

This FUNdraiser, sponsored by WagginBark Charity Inc., a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation, is open to anyone who wants to run any number of the 5-km races. 

The 24-hour event of 24 5-km races will be held at Washtenaw County’s Rolling Hills Park, 7660 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti. No separate person or vehicle admission fee has to be paid when entering the park; attendees should tell the gate attendant (if there is one) they are attending the race.

The first race kicks off at noon on Saturday, September 18. A new race starts each hour on the hour with the last race starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 19.  Each race has a different theme, and participants are invited to dress accordingly, if they wish; but theme attire is not required. 

Participants, who will receive an official race medal, can run, walk, crawl, skip, ride a tricycle, or participate virtually from their couch. 

Dogs are welcome, on a 6-foot leash at all times, and owners must clean up after their pet. 

The cost is $35 for one race, $50 for two races, and $100 for unlimited races.

The need for animal welfare organizations has never been greater, Egeler notes on his website. 

“The pandemic has shut down several scheduled fund-raising events, but the expenses continue,” “he writes. “The pandemic was a blessing and a curse. While many people realized the joy of dog slobbering kisses and couch potato love during the past year, sadly, shelters have started to fill and are busting at the seams with dogs that need our help. Even more disturbing, dog fighting continues to flourish throughout the U.S. The dog rescue charities supported with funds from this event work hard to provide safe havens for our furry friends!”

Egeler will provide updates on the official Facebook page –maybe. As his website states, “Dan sucks at this social media thing.  Procrastination has been honed to a brilliant art form.”

A native of Leland on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, Egeler earned his undergrad degree in political science from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from University of Detroit School of Law in 1986—completing his final semester while receiving four months of chemotherapy for cancer. 

He was in private practice in Ann Arbor and Detroit for 11 years, primarily concentrating in litigation, before going in-house for a further 11 years at the global transportation/logistics company Con-way/XPO Logistics. His position as senior director – Labor & Employment ended in December 2017 during a legal department reorganization when all the corporate legal departments throughout the U.S. were concentrated to the XPO world headquarters in Greenwich, Conn. 

Egeler took up running in 2018, as a way to lose weight and gain other healthy benefits. After running a couple of 5-KM races, he entered the Detroit Marathon in 2019.

For more information, and to donate or register to participate in the event, visit www.wagginbarkrace.com.
Checks can be mailed to WagginBark Charity, Inc., 12023 Island Lake Road, Dexter, MI 48130.