On Sept. 9, HYPE will host the second annual Bark at the Park Dog Walk and 5K at Granger Park. The event, which brought in more than 100 participants in its first year and raised more than $2,000, is being held to benefit the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society.

“This is the second year we will have put this event on,” said Trae Long, chairman of the board for HYPE. “Last year was the first year we did this. One of our big goals is to get young professionals involved with service to the community. Last year we were discussing how best to do this. Most of our board has dogs, so the idea to do something with dogs came up naturally.”

HYPE is a high impact group of diverse young professionals working together to showcase Troup County as a unique, fun place to live, per the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce website. The committee has a 13-member board, consisting of Long, Cheryl Magby, Jessica Brannen, Rachel Ennis, Anna Willis, Brent Addison, Eric Blackman, Henry Jacobs, Meghan Duke, Ameia Cotton, Chase Hall, Nate Crawford and Holly Anderson.

“One of the biggest benefits for us is it helps get the young professionals involved in the community,” Long said. “We wanted to do something big we can get behind.”

The event will feature a 5K run, with awards to be given out in 14 separate age classifications, along with a mile-long dog walk, both of which will begin in Granger Park. The dog walk portion of the event will have awards available for best dressed participants and the participant who looks the most like their dog.

“I think there are two major benefits to an event like this,” board member Chase Hall said. “One, it gets young professionals involved with the community. Two, it brings awareness to an issue not many are aware of in terms of dog and animal bites. The sheriff’s department and the LaGrange Police Department are doing a great job with this issue, we want to support them however we can. Partnering with the humane society is a great opportunity for us to do that.”

Registration for the 5K portion of the event will begin at 7 a.m. Sept. 9 at Granger Park, while the race will begin shortly thereafter at 7:30. The dog walk will be held along the Model Mile of The Thread and will begin at 9 a.m., with registration at 8:30. The cost of the 5K is $30 for all participants between the ages of 19 and 64 if registered by Aug. 28 and $35 after this date. For all participants 18 and under or 65 and over, the cost is $15 if registered by Aug. 28 and $20 after this date.

For more information on the event, visit Barkatthepark.itsyourrace.com.