On Sunday morning, hundreds of runners and walkers gathered at Marina Park in Kirkland for what has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many King County residents.
The Turkey Trot is a 5k (three-mile) course. New this year was a separate fun run for those interested in a faster pace. Walkers could choose a more leisurely stroll along the same course, which ran from Marina Park to Carillon Point and back.
The proceeds gathered from participants went toward the organization Hopelink. It provides emergency services to low-income families in King County. At this time of year, many people’s needs increase because of higher heating costs and greater food needs.
According to Venetia Vango, Hopelink’s development events officer, “The event is for kids, teams, families, even dogs. It’s a really neat mix.”
Participants Donna Costello and daughters Madison and Abby, along with Cathy Holt and daughter Bailey, were together as a team.
“We are the Gobble Gobble Girls,” said Holt.
The Gobble Gobble Girls participated in the Turkey Trot for the first time this year. Costello said she thought it would be fun to do it as a group and support a great cause.
Brenda Cooper, chief information officer for the City of Kirkland, participated for the third time this year, along with her dog Nixie.
“I like any walk I can take the dog on,” says Cooper, “and I like to support Hopelink, too,” adding that the organization is “a fabulous community resource.
“Most don’t look at the Eastside as a place of need,” says Cooper, “but it is.”
Donations from last year’s Turkey Trot enabled 2,375 families to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. In addition, 1,840 families secured emergency financial assistance to help prevent eviction and avoid homelessness, and 6,620 children received gifts through a holiday gift-giving program, according to statistics from Hopelink.
As the runners and walkers arrived back at Marina Park, volunteers provided fun activities and snacks as well as prizes for participants.
More information
For more information about Hopelink, visit www.hope-link.org/
Laila Zayan is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.
