Our Mission We strive for the goals of: 1. Promoting public interest and awareness 2. Encouraging and supporting those
The YBD Foundation, which operates the
“2 Dogs 2000 Miles” project, is a non-profit organization established to operate exclusively for charitable, educational, outreach and scientific purposes related to the reduction in the incidence of cancer and improve cure rates for all those touched by this disease.
through education about the causes for
the rise in animal cancer.
institutions that conduct research in the
field of comparative oncology which
compares human and animals cancers in
order to find the causes relative to each.
3. Establishing and empowering
collaborative efforts among individuals,
groups, communities and institutions
that seek to find the causes of cancer.
The Foundation
Is registered as a Nonprofit Corporation according to the laws of the State of Massachusetts, ID number 262798452. To access the Foundation's Articles of Organization, you can do so via the Secretary of the Commonwealth website.
How we are different
There are many cancer foundations which work towards finding a cure, and while we applaud their efforts, we want to know what’s causing it. The funds raised from the walk will finance the first ever nationwide epidemiological canine cancer study. We do it for the dogs, and for all humanity.
Our Story
The founder, Luke Robinson, having lived through experiencing the anguish of a beloved companion with cancer (Malcom), and so began his journey. The 2 Dogs 2000 Miles walk from Austin to Boston is a journey to rid the world of this disease. Together with Murphy, Hudson and all those who join us, we walk for all those touched by cancer.
Malcom's Legacy
In May 2004, my six year-old Great Pyrenees, Malcolm, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a particularly aggressive cancer of the bones. Less than a month later, his right front leg was amputated followed by chemotherapy, both of which are the prescribed treatment. Post-op recovery was promising. Within two weeks, he had learned to balance his 120 pound frame without assistance and not too much later, it was as if he was born three-legged.
I recall one fresh autumn morning on my front porch. I was caught up in the day's edition of the Wall Street Journal with Malcolm lying untethered nearby. Before I knew it, he had cleared the stairs, crossed the street, and treed a squirrel in a neighbor's yard. The image of him is still so perfect; standing upright with his one front leg resting on the trunk of a massive maple, barking maniacally.
Such was his spirit, undaunted by adversity and unsurpassed. We had a good year but unfortunately, osteosarcoma metastisizes in 90% of all cases. Malcolm wasn't spared. An x-ray taken in August 2005 revealed a grapefruit sized mass in his lung, which is almost always where the cancer spreads. He was given two weeks to a month to live.
Malcolm never stepped away from a fight (unless it involved a vacuum cleaner) and had no intention of going gentle into that good night. I cooked all of his meals, we traveled a bit, and he lived well for five more months until his body became too tired to continue. He was given rest January 11, 2006.
If you'd like to view the memorials I made for Malcolm, they're published on youtube: Slide show and Video