JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Although the day started rainy and cold, nearly 5,000 people participated in an annual Johnson City tradition on Thanksgiving Day.
Runners, walkers and families participated in the 19th annual Up & At ‘Em Turkey Trot Thursday morning, all for a good cause.
Proceeds from the event will go towards Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Washington County, Tennessee.
Free meals and more | Thanksgiving events in the Tri-Cities
Steven Croley, who ran with his daughters’ softball team, said the Turkey Trot serves as a team-building exercise.
“Our season just ended about a week ago and it kind of gives us that small amount of time in between to kind of get together, get everybody, go, run, exercise, whatever, get your day started the right way, and then kind of move on,” Croley said.
The route took trotters through downtown and the Tree Streets, ending at the TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
Jason Turner, who ran with his daughter, Hailey, said it was his daughter’s idea to participate in the 5k.
“[Hailey’s] got a school friend that wanted to do it. And, you know, I’ve done one. I’ve done another 5k in the past and did a Spartan race a little over a year ago. So I was like, ‘okay, we’ll do it.’”
News Channel 11’s Kasey Marler served as the emcee for this year’s turkey trot.
The start of the 5k can be watched above.
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