Photo Doggies for Anthony

A woman’s gesture to cheer up her friend’s son who is battling cancer has gone viral on Facebook by posting pictures of your pooch!

“Hi all, my friend Kristen Lyons has her son Anthony at Phoenix Childrens Hospital,” the post starts out. “They make him smile. I thought if I create this event, you can post a picture of your dog to help make him smile. His mom shows them to him and he smiles.“

"Photo Doggies for Anthony,” was started by Ro Joe with a simple message: post dog pictures. Within days, thousands of people from around the world began posting pictures of their pets with well wishes to 16-year-old Anthony.

Anthony is currently undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

The family has updated the page with Anthony’s condition and their thanks for everyone participating. “I cannot express the joy we have gotten from these photos. We have looked at each and every photo and video and we laugh and sometimes cry just from the outpouring of support,” said Lyons. “I will never be able to thank you all enough and all of you are the amazing people that have your best friend pets by your side day in and day out. We are so incredibly thankful for you sharing and loving your pets as much as we love ours. Thank you thank you thank you.”

On Jan 4...From Roberta... God Bless you and God Bless the world wide web...we are over 1/2 million photos...Anthony is smiling joyfully because of YOU..This has gotten so viral that it is making local and soon National News....One thing I have to say is, make yourself smile too by looking at these beautiful animals that God gave us. I can't stop crying from tears of happiness...Roberta

As of this morning over 673,000 people are “attending” the event, and if you'd like to submit a photo for Anthony, visit the Facebook event Photo Doggies for Anthony.