Edy Ganem is about to race for a cause…

The half-Mexican actress, who stars as Valentina Diaz on Lifetime’s Devious Maids, will compete alongside her co-stars on Saturday in a charity race to benefit the PetSOS organization, which is working to upgrade an animal shelter in Puerto Rico.

In a press conference this week, Devious Maids star Roselyn Sanchez said that Ganem, Judy Reyes and Rebecca Wisocky would take part in the invitation-only Amazing Paw Paw Race in the U.S. commonwealth.

Other artists slated to participate included singer-songwriter Jencarlos Canela, singer Ana Isabelle, television host Jaime Mayol, actor Julian Gil and his girlfriend, Colombian actress Viviana Serna.

Sanchez said the event was “really significant” because of its potential to help the Puerto Rican government improve the situation of stray dogs on the island.

She called on Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla’s administration to include the effort to rescue these animals among its other top priorities like combating crime and unemployment and improving public health.

Sanchez said the number of stray dogs in Puerto Rico has tripled over the past decade to 300,000 and she called on the island’s authorities to open more shelters to house these canines.

Referring to the race, she said the different team members must be “very athletic” because they will have to navigate an obstacle course spanning six different municipalities.

The funds raised for PetSOS also will be used to organize a large-scale spay and neuter drive on the island aimed at sterilizing hundreds of dogs and cats belonging to needy families.