The Darcy Fund

Life springs up

2010-08-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Darcy Bussell rosebush my friend Tamela planted in Darcy's memory has some beautiful blooms and more buds waiting to open. The Darcy Fund is a lot like that rosebush. Planted in memory of our beautiful girl, it has brought forth blooms not only in the form of donations by other Cavalier fans, but also in the education of people who might have been unaware of MVD or who needed help in recognizing the disease process and going through treatment. We are ever grateful to the many kind people who have supported us and the Darcy Fund over the past four years. I know that one day we will all make a difference.

Small dogs, big training challenges

2010-08-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Darcy was awfully smart. You could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she watched everything going on around her, taking it in and storing it for future reference. In many ways, she was very easy to train, but because she was so low to the ground--the typical Cavalier stands only 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder--it was sometimes difficult to get and keep her attention, especially when she was walking on leash. Small dogs can have other training issues as well.

That's why we've invited Maryanne Dell, CPDT, to be one of the speakers at the 2010 Darcy FUNDay. Maryanne has small dogs herself, including a Tibetan Spaniel, one of the cousins of the Cavalier, and she has lots of great tips on getting the most out of training sessions with a diminutive dog of any breed or mix.

If you're interested in learning more about training your small dog, sign up now for our event. It takes place on Saturday, October 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Passionate Pet in Irvine, California. Early-bird registrations are $25 before September 17; $35 after that date or at the door. For more information, e-mail Kim Thornton.

Mark your calendar!

2010-08-15T21:55:00.001-07:00

If you are in Southern California, please bring your Cavalier and the rest of your family to the fourth annual Darcy FUNDay. It takes place Saturday, October 2, at Passionate Pets, 18871 Teller Ave. in Irvine from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We have two great speakers lined up--veterinary cardiologist Sarah Miller and dog trainer/pet writer/therapy dog handler extraordinaire Maryanne Dell, plus a pet portrait photographer, a potluck lunch with all your Cavalier friends, contests, a raffle and a silent auction.

We'll post more information soon about how to sign up at the early bird rate of $25. Tell your friends!

2nd Annual Darcy FUNDay a HUGE success!!

2008-06-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

The second annual Darcy FUNDay was held May 31, 2008, at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel, California. Thanks to everyone who attended and to all those who donated but couldn't attend. We were able to raise over $1,700.00 for the Darcy Fund!!!

New Study Funded!!

2007-07-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to learn from the ACKCS Charitable Trust that the Darcy Fund has raised enough funds to finance a second research study, this time at the University of Edinburgh, titled "Alteration in Protein Expression in Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease" (phew!). Although we haven't verified it, we believe this study is looking for protein markers that start and/or change over the course of the disease, which will lead to faster, simpler, and more accurate diagnostic tools. A side benefit could be identifying how those proteins are created pointing to the biological process that drives valve deterioration and leading to treatment.

Thanks so much for your donations, which allow the Darcy Fund to continue funding ongoing projects as well as fund new ones.

Darcy Fun(d) Day A Rousing Success!

2007-05-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Darcy Fun(d) Day was yesterday and it was an unqualified success! Approximately 50 people showed with almost 40 dogs entered, and we were able to raise over $1300.00!!!! Along with the usual dog show categories of puppies, veterans, etc., there were "waggiest tale", "most freckles", "fastest eater", "fastest run to owner", and "longest ears". There was a pot-luck lunch and a raffle for many small cavalier oriented gifts that were donated by various organizations and individuals. Kim and I owe special thanks to our good friend Tamela Klisura who organized the event and Kathy Aycock (a real live show judge) who judged the show. I will post photos very soon.

Again, it was a great success and Kim and I are honored by everyone's support.

2007-04-10T11:24:00.001-07:00

Announcing The Darcy Fun(d) Match!

Darcy's good friend Tamela is organizing a Cavalier Fun Match (all Cavaliers are welcome) to raise money for the Darcy Fund. A Fun Match is just like a real dog show with a real judge but no pedigrees are required. They are a great way to see what it’s like to show a dog, learn what judges look for in the ring or just spend time with your Cavalier friends. Besides typical fun match classes—Puppy Dog, Puppy Bitch, Color Variety (1 year and up), Junior Handling (kids up to 18 years and any age dog) and Veterans (Cavaliers 7 years and up)—we’ll have contests for waggiest tail, longest ears, best trick and more, plus a Rescue parade and a raffle with lots of great prizes.

Bring a potluck dish to share and groom your dog to the nines. Winners (1st through 4th place will be awarded in each class) can be photographed with the judge. Or have your dog's picture taken just because he’s special.

Entry fees per event are $5 per dog and photos are $5. Prizes have been donated and all monies raised will be donated to the Darcy Fund, for research into causes of and treatments for chronic valve disease, also known as mitral valve disease, a serious problem in Cavaliers.

For more information email Tamela at cavalierpark@cox.net.

Location: Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel, CA
Date: Saturday May 12, 2007
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

2007-04-10T11:23:00.001-07:00

The Darcy Fund is going strong!

Many people have donated to the fund for Christmas and other holidays, both traditional and private. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your donations will allow the MVD research being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania to continue. Please donate today. Although the research was started with funds from a large private donation, the ACKCSC hopes to fund additional ongoing costs with donations to the Darcy Fund.

The Darcy Fund has been getting quite a bit of press. I will publish soon a list of articles, magazines, newspapers and radio shows that have mentioned or discussed the fund.

2007-04-10T11:21:00.002-07:00

More Darcy Fund news....

The ACKCSC Charitable Trust has a new web page dedicated to the Darcy Fund. Thanks to the ACKCSC for setting the page up.

Several people have reported a problem using the "donate" button/page on the ACKCSC Charitable Trust web site, but we can now report that the problem has been fixed. If you tried to donate via the button in the past and experienced problems, please try donating again. Thanks so much.

We also have information on the research being performed at the University of Pennsylvania: The goal of the research is to identify the specific gene (or genes) responsible for chronic valvular disease so that simple accurate tests can be developed to identify dogs at risk. Hopefully these tests can be incorporated into the Cavalier breeding protocols to speed the removal of this disease from the beloved Cavaliers' genome.

2007-04-10T11:21:00.001-07:00

The Darcy Fund at Work

An update from the ACKCSC Charitable Trust re: the Darcy Fund:

"...We are so grateful to you for setting up this fund with us!!! Research has begun at the University of Pennsylvania and we are confident that with the Darcy Fund, we will be be able to cover the full cost. We have been working on getting this research in place for over three years now and the anticipated donations to the Darcy Fund have finally made it possible!!

Thank you so much,

Sincerely,

Carol Williams, Chairman
ACKCSC charitable Trust "

So thanks to all that have donated to the Darcy Fund. You are making a difference!

2007-04-10T11:19:00.001-07:00

The Darcy Fund

As mentioned in this month's MSNBC Pet Health column, Creature Comforts, the ACKCSC Charitable Trust (American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club) has set up a charitable fund for the study of CVD (Chronic Valvular Disease, also known as MVD) in Cavaliers called the Darcy Fund. Here is the ACKCSC Charitable Trust donation form. It is also in the permanant links section on the right.

If you or any of Darcy's friends wish to make a donation, just use the form and write DARCY FUND in the 'In honor of' or 'In memory of' lines - any such donations will be credited to the new fund.

Thanks! Maybe Darcy’s fund will help other lovely little Cavaliers to live longer....

2007-04-10T11:18:00.001-07:00

The Darcy Fund is becoming a reality!!

Kim and I have requested that the ACKCSC (American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club) set up a charitable fund for the study of CVD (Chronic Valvular Disease, also known as MVD) in Cavaliers and we received word that the Trust Board was in unanimous support of it! Final paperwork is being processed but in the meantime, here is the link to the ACKCSC Charitable Trust donation form: http://ackcsccharitabletrust.org/TrustDonation.pdf. I have also added it to the permanant links on the right.

If you or any of Darcy's friends wish to make a donation now, just use the form and mark DARCY FUND on it somewhere - any such donations will be credited to the new fund.

Thanks! Maybe Darcy’s fund will help other lovely little Cavaliers to live longer....

2007-04-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Darcy Fund Blog created to keep Darcy's Daily free for MVD information. Posts about the fund, various fund raisers, and research progress will be posted on the Darcy Fund blog.