Thanksgiving — time for turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie — and the 16th annual Virginia Run Turkey Trot. The 5K race and 2K walk kick off Thursday, Nov. 25, at 8 a.m.
Registration before Nov. 21 is $20, run; $13, walk. After that date, it's $22 and $15, respectively. Register online at www.runwashington.com or at www.racepacket.com. There's no race-day registration, and the field is limited to the first 2,000 run entrants.
The USATF-certified event will take place, rain, shine or snow. The course begins and ends at the Virginia Run Community Center at 15355 Wetherburn Court, off Route 29 and Pleasant Valley Road in Centreville.
THIS YEAR'S Turkey Trot will be run in honor of two Virginia Run residents, Mary Graham and Ken Moore Sr., who died of cancer in October 2003 and February 2004, respectively.
All proceeds benefit Life with Cancer, Inova Health System's nonprofit program for cancer patients and their families. Last year's event yielded nearly $37,000 for Life with Cancer, and Turkey Trot chairman Dominic DeVincenzo of Virginia Run hopes to raise $50,000, this time.
"Life with Cancer is a multifaceted program, and I don't think people realize it until they're faced with a catastrophic illness," said Moore's widow, Cherie. "There are programs for children, siblings, people considering drug trials. They can learn about caring for the family, what services are out there and what to expect [during cancer]. It's somebody out there to go to who's experienced it."
In the 5K race, the top two males and females overall will receive plaques and gift certificates, along with the top two Virginia Run residents. Prizes are also given in various age categories. Computer chips attached to runners' shoelaces will record their times.
Registrants will receive custom-designed T-shirts at packet pick-up: Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 6-8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 24, from 3-8:30 p.m.; or on race day from 6:30-7:45 a.m. at the Virginia Run Community Center.
Race-day parking is available at Centreville Baptist Church and Bull Run Elementary School, both at Route 29 and Pleasant Valley Road. Race results will be posted on www.runwashington.com.
Premier sponsor is Carteret Mortgage Corp. Other main sponsors include First Horizon Bank, Luck Stone Corp., Odyssey Travel, Northern Virginia Oncology Group, Mitchell Eye Institute and Glory Days Grill. To donate raffle items, call Bob Donnelly at 703-830-1179.
"It means a lot to us to have this support [from the Turkey Trot]," said Virginia Run's Liz Bredthauer, special-events consultant for Life with Cancer. "So many people are touched by cancer, and Life with Cancer is a wonderful, free program to help them."
Classes are available for all ages. For information about specific programs and classes and what the organization does, see www.lifewithcancer.org or call 703-208-5610.