Ally Miller has organized a dog show fundraiser that will be held Saturday on the village green. Her dog, Jake, will serve as event chair.

“I want to hold a dog show.”

That was the original idea that came to 10-year-old Ally Miller one day in April while she was standing in the driveway of her home in Davidson Farms.  This moment of inspiration led to a chain of events that will culminate Saturday in Ally’s Think Pink Dog Show, a breast-cancer fundraiser on the Davidson Town Green with multiple sponsors, a website, commemorative T-shirts, a raffle … and, hopefully, lots of dogs.

By organizing the show, Ally has learned business savvy and fund-raising skills — and turned her interest in pets into an event that will raise money, in honor of her friend’s mom, for breast cancer research.

The idea for a dog show came in part from Ally’s friend, Brooke Phillips, who held a dog show at Woodlawn School in May.  That show raised several hundred dollars for area pet shelters.  Ally decided that her pet show would raise money for fighting breast cancer, which she learned about through a classmate and friend in her fourth-grade class at Davidson Elementary School whose mother has been diagnosed with the disease.

“She talked to us all about breast cancer,” Ally explained, adding that Saturday’s show has been dubbed “A Day for Rae” in her classmate’s honor.

Ally went door-knocking for sponsorships with her friend, Christiana Brueggemann (in pink), who joined her for this photo, along with Ally's parents, Craig and Wanda Miller.

Ally emailed the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the global leader in the breast cancer movement, to apply to hold an event.  When she didn’t hear back quickly enough, she called them to get her fundraiser scheduled as a “Passionately Pink” event.  Ally also went with her neighbor, Christiana Brueggemann, to knock on the door of Davidson Mayor John Woods and ask if it was OK to hold the event on the Village Green.  Not only did he agree, the Town of Davidson is now a co-sponsor.

Ally has commissioned her pet golden retriever, Jake, to be the event chairman.  Her show, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturday, will feature costume contests, pet care education, games, a raffle, a chance to adopt dogs, and more.  Participants are asked to wear pink.

What is the hardest part of organizing a fundraiser?

“Trying to get out enough flyers,” Ally said.  “And talking to sponsors.”

Her goal is to raise $500.  Raffle tickets will sell for $2, and the entrance fee for the dog show is $10.  Ally will also have special  t-shirts to give to donors, who can give money at the show, or by clicking on the “donations” link from Ally’s event website.  Proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Jake turned around to show off his event t-shirt.

Ally’s parents, Craig and Wanda Miller, are helping out and said they hope to see the fundraiser become an annual event.  Wanda, the president and general manager of The Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, invited her friend, NASCAR radio and TV personality Doug Rice to get involved and he agreed to be a host, bringing along special guests NHRA driver Doug Herbert and Dr. Ginger.

Event sponsors now include: Petco, the Town of Davidson, Performance Racing Network, Doug Herbert Performance Parts, Apartment Arrangements, Southlake Ear-Nose-Throat, and The Speedway Club.

Ally has lined up these sponsors, learning persistence, patience and communication skills along the way. She is still coordinating all the details, but standing Wednesday afternoon in the driveway where it all started, Ally was all smiles.

“It’s been fun!” she cheerfully exclaimed.  “I can’t wait for Saturday morning.”