Trotting for a worthy cause
Published 10:13 pm Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Runners make their way through the Riverfront community at last year’s Turkey Trot.
When the Riverfront Swim Club holds charity events, it looks to the local community for a beneficiary.
For the 10th year, the club will hold the Turkey Trot 5K Run and Walk, and it will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, rain or shine. For the seventh year, the proceeds will benefit the Suffolk Humane Society.
The strictly local group works entirely through donations, receiving no state or federal funding. It sponsors spay/neuter programs, supports pet adoption efforts and provides humane education with an emphasis on responsible pet ownership.
Tammy Sadler, pushing a child in a stroller, and Greg McCain make progress during last year’s Turkey Trot 5K Run and Walk put on by the Riverfront Swim Club. The Trot will take place this year on Nov. 16, once again benefiting the Suffolk Humane Society.
“They have a need for support,” Riverfront Swim Club Manager Pam Sweet said.
Sweet said the Turkey Trot came about because Riverfront is a community consisting of many people who are active outdoors.
“We do have a huge amount of dog lovers in the neighborhood,” she said, which helped contribute to the society becoming the beneficiary of the event.
“We’re grateful they like us,” said Kay Hurley, the society’s director of community outreach. Because of the need for donations, she said, “Events like this are huge for us. They enable us to continue the programs we have and expand on them.”
The race/walk will begin and end at the Swim Club on 5301 Sports Club Run. In between, the track will wind its way through the Riverfront community.
Dogs will be allowed to accompany runners/walkers, but they must remain leashed.
The race will feature seven age divisions, including a 1-mile “gobbler run” for children 12-and-under.
A post-race celebration will include a complimentary continental breakfast and awards presentation to the winners. Additionally, raffle tickets will be on sale for many prizes, and there will be silent auctions.
Chick-fil-A will be on hand, giving out stuffed cows before and after the race.
Sponsors from the local business community are being sought to help defray the costs of putting on the event and to raise more money for the society.
A $100 sponsorship will earn a company placement on the long-sleeved event T-shirt every participant will receive. All sponsorship information must be in by Nov. 1.
Last year, the Turkey Trot raised $4,000 for Suffolk Humane. While they would like top that amount this year, the society also welcomes in-kind donations. This list includes pet food, dog/cat toys and other pet-related items like collapsible wire crates or even unwanted towels.
“We’re happy with anything anybody wants to give us, pretty much, and the animals can’t do it for themselves,” Hurley said.
Sweet encouraged people to come out to the event because it is “to support a great cause. It’s a fun family event with lots of activities, and it’s a way to give back to the community.”
It will begin at 9 a.m.
The cost for adults is $18 prior to race day, $20 on race day; for children 12 and under, $15 prior to race day, $17 on race day.
To register or to help sponsor the event, contact Pam Sweet at 483-3906 or visit www.RiverfrontSwimClub.com to download the application and mail it in.
Another way to make sponsor package requests and financial and in-kind donations to the Suffolk Humane Society is by sending an email to donations@suffolkhumanesociety.com or calling 538-3030.
Visit www.SuffolkHumaneSociety.com each week to get the latest information about the group’s activities and to view up-to-date photos of adoptable animals at Suffolk Animal Control.
