Runners hit the road for Humane Society

Published 5:08 pm Saturday, November 14, 2009

It takes a special breed of person to look outside the window to see a cold drizzle falling and think, “It’s a good morning for a run.” Fortunately for the Suffolk Humane Society, there were close to 100 such people Saturday morning at The Riverfront Swim Club.

The annual Turkey Trot brought out a number of area runners not only to take in a brisk morning run, but also to support the Suffolk Humane Society and its mission.

“We have done this for six years and this is the third year that the proceeds have gone to the Suffolk Humane Society,” Riverfront Swim Club manager and event official Pam Sweet said. “We are so pleased to be able to help out this local charity once again.”

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Runners of all ages and skills joined in the event, which included a 5K run, walk and a one-mile run.

“All the proceeds go back to the Humane Society and are put to good use in our efforts to stop euthanasia as a means of controlling pet overpopulation in Suffolk,” Linda Vetter, in-kind donations coordinator, said.

Although the turnout was less than expected, and less than last year due to the recent poor weather, Vetter said organizers were ecstatic about those that did turn out.

“I think this is really a good turnout, based on the weather we’ve had and the weather this morning,” Vetter said. “I think people were just happy to get out of their homes after being inside the past few days.”

Vetter said through donations and the registration fees, the Suffolk Humane Society raised approximately $1,100 from the event.