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First-Ever Turkey Trot Helps Out Charities

First-Ever Turkey Trot Helps Out Charities - Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 4:38PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Nov 26, 2009 @ 04:38pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - While the annual Race for the Diamonds usually grabs headlines on Thanksgiving, a race in Lackawanna county made some history of its own Thursday.

Nearly 150 people turned out for the first-ever Turkey Trot for Tots in Scranton. The event was a 5K Run/Walk around Lake Scranton. Organizers say it was a huge success.

"We got e-mails and phone calls from people saying -- normally I would have driven all the way down to Berwick -- but I'm gonna come here instead and we got people who came up from Philadelphia," organizer John Kilker said.

Instead of paying an admission fee, runners brought food items or new toys. All of the items will be donated to the Saint Francis Soup Kitchen and Toys for Tots. Runners say that made the event worthwhile.

"It was just fun. It was fun to go around and see everybody come out and show up with all the toys," Robert Lettieri of Scranton said.

Robert McGregor showed up early with his family.

"It was difficult to get all of our children out of bed to come here but we did it and the race was fun," McGregor said.

The idea for the event started last year when Kilker brought his fitness class to run around Lake Scranton. It grew into a charity idea just three weeks ago.

"We honestly thought if it's just everyone from the class, 12-20 people, we'll be really excited, so the fact that we got all these people...Scranton is great like that, I have to be honest," Kilker said.

Many of the runners say it was important to get some exercise before they ate a big dinner.

"Thanksgiving is just always one of those days where you know you're going to eat a lot later so it's fun to get out there and run now," Lettieri said.

Organizers of the Turkey Trot for Tots say they plan to make the 5K an annual Thanksgiving Day tradition in Lackawanna County.
 


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