Sam Schwalje Memorial Ramble

FARVets Race Series

For our next event, we are hosting a nature hike/walk/wander/ramble, with you choosing your own location, distance, and preferred method of movement. This fundraiser is to honor the memory of our dear friend and colleague, Sam Schwalje, DVM. Her favorite charity was Farm Sanctuary, an non-profit organization dedicated to the humane treatment and rehabilitation of abandoned farm animals, and proceeds from this event will go to Farm Sanctuary in her honor, as well as to charities that seek to address mental health issues in the veterinary medical profession.

Sam had a tremendous love for pet rats, and thus as a practicing veterinarian she was one of the first at her practice to treat exotic pets. She then found her way to working for a nonprofit dog and cat rescue that provided low cost veterinary services to the underserved low-income community in her city. She was a skilled and compassionate doctor, and an amazing friend, devoting even more of herself to making her friends feel happy and loved.

THE EVENT
This will be a very non-traditional outdoor event. Sam loved the outdoors, hiking, bicycling, animals, picnicking with her friends. She was a wanderer when out in nature, so we would like to continue to emulate her love for the outdoors and nature by asking participants to pick a favorite park, trail, or field, and simply wander. There is no formal route or distance, or even mode of locomotion. Just be outside, think of Sam and your loved ones, and know that there is always someone you can talk to or ask for help.

Sam was a warm, loving, quirky person. To remember her lovely quirkiness, part of this event will be to participate by also painting or coloring or writing on a rock, with a picture, design, and inspirational message, and leave it on the trail in which you do this event. Others will pass by, see your rock, and hopefully be similarly moved, and perhaps leave their own message rocks on their favorite trails to share.

Please share pictures of your wandering and/or your rock on the event FaceBook group page
Jami and Paul

If you cannot do the distance, but still want to donate, please feel free to still register, and Jami and I will ramble the distance for you! Pick a distance, any distance! And let us know on the Facebook group page linked above which distance you want us to ramble for you. You can still paint an inspirational rock or we can do one for you!