When it comes to raising money for animals, PETA loves to be creative. And that’s when our PETA Pack program often comes into play. The PETA Pack is a group of runners who participate in various races—from full marathons to 5Ks—in the name of animal liberation.

This year, six of our runners will take on the United Airlines NYC Half marathon on March 17. This 13.1-mile race will begin in Brooklyn, make its way over the historic Manhattan Bridge and up FDR Drive, wind through Times Square (one of only two times it’s closed each year), and finish in Central Park.

Each of our vegan runners will raise funds for PETA causes close to their hearts. We’ll introduce you to one of our runners each week during the lead-up to the big race.

First, meet Christopher Merrow. He’s a longtime animal advocate who’s been a part of the PETA Foundation for nearly 14 years. He’s running in support of PETA’s Community Animal Project (CAP). For every mile he runs, a doghouse will be built!

As an honorary member of our Emergency Response Team, Christopher knows the work of CAP personally. He assists our fieldworkers with helping animals in the wake of devastating natural disasters. When he’s not running, he spends time with his two rescued cat companions, Chip and Harvey, and volunteers to help animals.

Want to help Christopher raise money for CAP? You can donate to his fundraiser for the event. And if you’re interested in starting your own PETA Pack fundraiser, you can get involved, too, even if you’re just going on a walk with your dog.

Want to help even more? Create your own PETA Pack fundraiser today!