Greyhounds running for charity
From the Omaha World-Herald:
Dogs take bite from boy’s bills
BY JULIE ANDERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERCOUNCIL BLUFFS - Five-year-old Cole Jipsen of rural Griswold, Iowa, doesn’t just have people pulling for him in his fight against leukemia.
He has two dogs - prize-winning greyhounds, to be exact - running for him.
The owners of two kennels that race at Bluffs Run Greyhound Park have donated the dogs to Cole and his family to help raise money to cover the cost of his medical care.
Under the agreement, the family owns the dogs and will receive half of all purse money the two dogs win during their careers at Bluffs Run. The Bryon Legg and Plum Creek Kennels will continue to maintain the dogs.
Bryon Legg of Bryon Legg Kennel said donating a dog was the kennel owners’ way of helping the family.
“The purse money at Bluffs Run for the Iowa-bred dogs is real good, so this is an opportunity to help that family,” he said.
David Robinette of Plum Creek Kennel said he and Legg decided on the donation not only to raise money for Cole but also to draw attention to his plight and encourage others to help.
Robinette said the dogs have been good to him.
“It’s the least I can do to help a family out that has had a little bit tougher luck than I’ve had,” he said.
The kennel owners, who are friends, have small-town connections with the Jipsens. All live in rural Griswold, and Cole’s grandfather is a neighbor of Legg’s. Also involved is Mike Muhlbauer of Griswold, a friend and partner of Legg’s.
Kevin Jipsen, Cole’s father, said the family is grateful to everyone who cares about their son.
“They’ll never know how much we appreciate the help everyone has given us,” he said.
Cole was diagnosed Nov. 8 after his mother, Amber, noticed something wasn’t right. He currently is in remission. He just finished his third round of chemotherapy and has two rounds to go.
“It was a shocker, that’s for sure,” said Kevin Jipsen, who farms part-time and works as Griswold’s water superintendent. Cole has two younger brothers, ages 3 and 1.
The hardest thing for Cole is that he hasn’t been able to get outside to play, his dad said. Cole can’t go to preschool or play much with other children because of his weakened immune system.
“That upsets him,” Jipsen said.
Legg said each kennel chose its top pup to run for Cole. Greyhounds typically have a career of about four years.
Speedy Blue of the Legg Kennel has won his first two races and collected a total of $2,420 since November. Jipsen’s Dream, from Plum Creek Kennel, has won his first race and brought home $1,914 this year.
Rory DeSantiago, Bluffs Run’s racing director, said people associated with the track often take up collections to help colleagues with needs. But this is the first time he has heard of anyone donating dogs.
Link to article: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1642&u_sid=1320643
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