This Thanksgiving Day, more than 700 runners will lace up their shoes, and their costumes, for the 10th annual Wrightsville Beach Turkey Trot around the John Nesbitt Loop. The Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity offers this fun, active event to precede families’ feasts.
“We can envision the person who is the cook in the kitchen saying, ‘Get out of my house and go do something!’” Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity development director Kitty Yerkes said during a Nov. 17 phone interview. “That something is come help build a habitat house by running in the Turkey Trot.”
Proceeds from the race benefit The Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that constructs and rehabilitates home for families in need throughout New Hanover, Pender and northeastern Brunswick counties. The organization offers interest-free mortgages, allowing a wider range of lower-income families to qualify for homeownership. Yerkes said they expect to raise $30,000 from this year’s event.
“We are hoping to build 12 to 15 habitat houses this year and to renovate or repair another six to eight houses, and the Turkey Trot is a big help in sponsoring a house,” she said.
The 5k begins at Wrightsville Beach Park at 8:30 a.m. A 1-mile Fun Run will start at 8:25 a.m.
Yerkes said entire families, including dogs on leashes, are encouraged to race as a team. Prizes are awarded to the best Thanksgiving-themed team, largest team and fastest team. A prize will also be given to the best individual costume.
Vying for that prize will be Wrightsville Beach resident Nancy Faye Craig. Yerkes said Craig is one of the first to sign up every year, and she plans to race this year, as she does every year, in a turkey costume.
Craig explained she acquired a turkey costume to wear for her church’s Thanksgiving food drive the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
“So I just keep it and wear it on Thursday for the Turkey Trot,” she said. “You get your money’s worth out of the outfit.”
Craig said she enjoys getting into the Thanksgiving spirit for the race every year, along with all of the other families that participate.
“Lots of the families dress up so you’ve got pilgrims and Indians and more turkeys, it’s quite a fun thing to do,” Craig said. “And you get to make room for more lunch or dinner if you run it off that morning!”
For more information or to register visit https://its-go-time.com/wrightsville-beach-turkey-trot-2014
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