Josh Project
-Visit the Josh and Friends Website-
*UPDATE* May 2009
Our SCAVMA chapter has won the Josh Challenge for the 4th year in a row. We raised $15,800 this year! For winning, we will get an extra $5,000 to give to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. That money will buy an extra 125 Josh kits for sick children in our community.
Image to the Right:
WesternU wins the Josh Challenge at the SAVMA Symposium 2009!
Left to Right: Brandon Boren (DVM 2010), Kristin Nunez (DVM 2012), Deirdre Murdy (DVM 2011), Dr. Randy Lange, Laura Chan (DVM 2009)
HISTORY
The Josh Project started at WesternU in March of 2004 by the efforts of Cynthia Kinney and Ciara Vollaro (DVM 07, picture to the right) and is now used as a model program by Josh and Friends® for other veterinary schools.
Between March of 2004 and May of 2005 WesternU SCAVMA raised over $6,000.00 and purchased over a 140 Josh kits and presented them to the LA Children’s Hospital.
Who is Josh?
Yes, there really is a Josh and he lives with Dr. Randy Lange, a veterinarian.
When Dr. Lange’s daughter went into the hospital, he was concerned with the lack of materials explaining surgery and offering comfort at a child’s level. From this experience Dr. Lange wrote the book , I’ll be OK, that tells the story of Josh and his veterinary experience from a dog’s point of view. Dr. Lange drew upon the human-animal bond to relate to children who are hospitalized and to explain medical procedures to them
How Can You Help?
You can help WesternU SCAVMA in fundraising for the Josh Project. Our ultimate goal is to get this book and puppy into the hands of as many kids as we can. There are hundreds of thousands of children going in the hospitals across North America every day. This simple book and puppy has made a huge difference when these children have to go in for medical or surgical care in the hospital.
Erica Faulhaber, DVM 2012 [efaulhaber@westernu.edu]
*All donations are tax deductible!*