Hundreds of golden retrievers gathered to rejoice Spencer, the golden named the official canine of the Boston Marathon, and the affect the late canine had on the well-known race.
MA Golden Meetups organized the occasion, which took place at Boston Commons in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday, April 14, and raised money for canine most cancers analysis, according to Boston.com.
The Boston Athletic Association declared Spencer the official canine of the Boston Marathon in 2022. The golden retriever turned recognized amongst marathon attendees (and the world) for displaying up on race day at his favourite spot in Ashland, Mass., rain or shine, to cheer on runners and take pictures along with his followers.
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Sunday’s meetup included a “social hour” for a whole bunch of golden retrievers, whose homeowners purchased yellow bandanas that mentioned “Boston Strong” in honor of the “Boston Strong” flags that Spencer would carry in his mouth to cheer on runners. Part of the proceeds from gross sales went to help canine most cancers analysis.
The occasion additionally included a walk that began at Boston Common and went previous the Massachusetts State House, per CBS News.
As PEOPLE beforehand reported, a statue of Spencer’s likeness was unveiled in March, near the canine’s favourite spot on the Boston Marathon route, to honor the remedy canine.
Boston Marathon runners and spectators who fell in love with Spencer over the years helped increase the funds wanted to create and erect the statue, per WBZ News.
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Then, Ashland residents Robin Hicks and Cynthia Eynon Hicks donated a bit of their non-public land for the statue after the Ashland Select Board denied a request to place the piece at Spencer’s favourite marathon spectator spot.
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe through Getty
Spencer started displaying up on the marathon in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombing to encourage runners throughout a troublesome 12 months for the occasion. He turned recognized nationwide in 2018 when he confirmed up within the pouring rain holding “Boston Strong” flags in his mouth to point out his help for the soaking-wet runners.
The canine was recognized with a cancerous tumor in 2020 and nonetheless supplied individuals encouragement by means of the pandemic on social media.
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP through Getty
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One of the canine’s homeowners, Rich Powers, introduced Spencer’s demise in February 2023.
“We are devastated to share the information of Spencer’s passing,” Powers wrote on Instagram on the time. “We have been loaned [an] unimaginable present in 2009, and we needed to return the present final Friday.”
Sunday’s golden retriever meet-up additionally honored Spencer’s niece, Penny, who died inside weeks of him.
