FC/AFC Mioak's Smoke'n Zeke

Zeke was a once in a lifetime dog with a "just show me what you want attitude" both when training and when running in field trial competition. As a young dog, he set a record for Goldens that may never be equaled. While still a young dog, he qualified for six national championships and was a finalist at the June, 1994 National Amateur Field Trails. But at the end of August that same year, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He was only 5 ½ years of age!

Zeke responded well to chemotherapy, so that November, Zeke and his owners, Bill and Mary Glenn, hunted the high plains, rousting pheasants and sage hens on their way to the St. Louis National Open Retriever Championship. One month later, Zeke was dead.

Zeke's death was not unique. Goldens of all ages are succumbing to a variety of cancers at alarming rates. In recognition of this disturbing trend, Bill and Mary Glenn donated $10,000 to the Golden Retriever Foundation in 1999 to establish a canine cancer research fund in memory of their beloved Zeke. In making their gift, they stated, "Cancer in Goldens is a very important issue for us, and we hope this donation may encourage others to join us in funding research."

During the 2002-2003 fiscal year, the Golden Retriever Foundation awarded $30,000 in cancer study grants from the resources of the Zeke Cancer Research Fund.

Many others have responded to the Glenn's invitation to support cancer research, having experienced the sadness of losing one or more of their own Goldens to this disease. A new section of the GRF website, In Memoriam is dedicated to these individuals and to the Goldens they loved.