2018 Marks Tenth Year for Sedalia Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day
The Center for Human Services will sponsor the 10th annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on November 22 in Sedalia.
"This is a day that you can get some exercise in, support a wonderful cause - the Center for Human Services, our mission is 'a life without limitations' - we have a 5K run or walk, we have a 1 mile run or walk, and we have a gobbler dash, about a 40-yard dash for kids 3-7 years old," said Susan Mergen, director of development for the Center for Human Services. "It's just a way for us to raise money to support folks with disabilities."
According to Mergen, the Center for Human Services serves over 4,000 individuals a year in 36 counties. "We start prenatally with moms in our Early Head Start program, center-based and home-based. We have a large community living division where we have different levels of independent living. We have a huge employment services department, which now the focus is community employment. And our service coordination is in multiple counties, and we help coordinate services for people that have developmental or physical disabilities."
Proceeds from the Turkey Trot will benefit the Center for Human Services in a variety of ways, according to Mergen. "The monies that are raised help support employment services, early care and education. A lot of times folks might need some adaptive equipment, or help getting jobs, and those funds aren't there through federal or state government, and so a lot of private donations are raised to help support many different areas."
Mergen says the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is not a time-chipped event, although there is a timer. "Typically it's a fun run. It's not very competitive, but you can certainly be competitive and come on out. We encourage people to wear costumes. You can push a stroller. It's just a lot of fun, rain or shine."
The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot begins at County Distributing at 8:30 a.m. on November 22, 2018. Registration through November 8 is $30. Runners must be registered by November 8 to guarantee a t-shirt. Registration is $35 from November 9 until the day of the race, but t-shirts are not guaranteed. Participants may sign up online through Eventbrite.