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Annual Run for Erin
Set for September

Fur Ball Donations
Used to Fund Spay
and Neuter Program

Atlanta Animal Alliance sponsors Catsnip, a spay/neuter program in a van which travels daily to different sites within the Atlanta area performing surgery on cats. Atlanta Animal Alliance staff includes Veterinarian Dr. Michael Fry, Vet Technician Sarah Morgan and Office Manager Sarah Caron. They, along with Cherokee County Humane Society Spay/Neuter Coordinator Jeneanne Organ, recently traveled to Shadow Wood Mobile Park with the Catsnip van to perform surgery on cats as young as 8 weeks or weigh a minimum of two pounds.

The project was funded by monies raised at the annual Fur Ball held last spring. Co-chair Gina Carr was on hand to explain how the funds were raised and how each cat's surgery was free of charge. Twenty-six cats received the surgery on Friday, July 23. Normally the surgery costs $55 for females and $35 for males and includes a rabies and distemper shot and a pain injection, which lasts 24 hours.

Sandy McCleskey of Cherokee Summit apartments was so excited to hear the Catsnip mobile was coming to Shadow Wood that she took flyers to every apartment in her complex. The result was several in the complex brought their cats, including Forest Sutton who had planned to take his cat Key Key to a veterinary clinic in Cumming, but instead brought her to the Catsnip mobile.

For more information, please call (770) 455-7077 or visit the Catsnip website at www.catsnip.com.

Erin Peters

The Fifth Annual Run for Erin will be held on Saturday, September 25 at Woodstock High School. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk/run begins at 8:30 a.m. The event will also include a raffle, moonwalk, food and music. Trophies and medallions will be awarded in 17 categories and t-shirts and goody bags are guaranteed to all pre-registered participants.

The Run for Erin is an annual fundraising event in honor of local resident Erin Peters who suffers from MPS. MPS affects major organs, including the respiratory system, heart, bones and nervous system. There presently is no cure for the disease. More than $75,000 has been donated to the National MPS Society from the annual Run for Erin events. Erin's mom, Stacy said, "The 'Run for Erin' is our way of contributing to the National MPS Society as they fund research efforts, clinical trials and support families whose lives have been invaded by MPS."

Erin was diagnosed with MPS II in 1996 when she was a few months shy of turning seven. Up until then, she had been a normal, healthy child. MPS is a degenerative disease, and because of the MPS, Erin has regressed to the functioning level of a one year-old. She has lost most of her cognitive abilities and is beginning to lose her balance, a sign of impending loss of mobility. At the present time, there is no cure for MPS, which is why fundraisers, such as this, are so important for research. Erin currently attends Woodstock Middle School and is in Janie Moyer's Special Education class.

Registration forms are available at area restaurants, grocery stores, churches and businesses. To register online, please visit www.runforerin.com.

Local Center Offers Help
to Troubled Youth

For parents who have children with behavioral problems, programs offered through the Highland Rivers Center may be the answer. Highland Rivers has locations in 11 counties including Cherokee and reports to the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Highland Rivers offers a year-round program for children with behavioral or emotional problems providing extensive treatment and counseling. The children acquire new skills allowing them to succeed in the classroom and other environments. They are referred to the center by school counselors, Department of Family and Children Services, parents and the Juvenile Court.

Highland Rivers is a human service agency governed by a Community Service Board. The Board is comprised of volunteers who represent the counties and disabilities served by the Highland Rivers Community Service Board. For additional information, please call (770) 704-1600 or visit www.highlandrivers.org.

Sandy McCleskey, grandson Logan Ryan Poore and Fur Ball Co-chair Gina Carr.