700 Give Thanks at Tri-Valley Turkey Burn

More than 700 adults and children enjoyed a healthy start to Thanksgiving Day at the Second Annual Tri-Valley Turkey Burn, a 5K walk and 10K family fun run at Pleasanton’s Ken Mercer Sports Park and nearby Arroyo Mocho Trail.

The event, organized by Pleasanton North Rotary (PNR) and Accusplit, a Pleasanton-based pedometer manufacturer, raised more than $11,000 for Rotary-sponsored youth services. It also collected about 800 non-perishable food items for the non-profit Open Heart Kitchen and winter coats that will be distributed to the needy by Tri-Valley Evening Rotary Club.

“The Turkey Burn was designed as a healthy way to start the holiday and to burn off calories before Thanksgiving dinner,” said PNR Youth Exchange Chairman Kevin Greenlee. “We really had a lot of happy people at this event.

Greenlee led the organizing effort for the Turkey Burn with Ron Sutton, a PNR member and president of Accusplit. Proceeds will support PNR’s international student exchange program, local student participation in District 5170 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) summer camp, memorial scholarships and student of the month recognition awards.

The Turkey Burn also advanced Sutton’s personal mission to promote wellness. He estimates that his pedometers, first introduced to the fitness market in 1977, have added millions of healthy years to the lives of their 100 million users. He also founded the World Walk to Wellness program.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, participants were asked to describe what they are thankful for on bibs worn during the walk/run. Many said they were thankful for their families, children, parents, friends, and pets, but their messages also included thanks for the San Francisco Giants, living in Pleasanton, good health, democracy, coffee, my job, vacations, and nature as well as for “so much” and “just everything.”

Club Sport of Pleasanton contributed colorful Turkey Burn bandanas worn by participants, water stations and the services of Sandie Hernbroth, director Team Club Sport, who led participants in stretching exercises before the event.

Lee Denlinger was the honorary starter. As a PNR member, she spearheaded an effort in 2010 that persuaded Rotary International to add youth services as a fifth Avenue of Service that now helps guide the charitable work of its 1.2 million members in 200 countries around the world.

PNR members Jim Brice, Colleen Ewanich, and Mark Linsky worked with Greenlee and Sutton on the Turkey Burn organizing committee. Sponsors included Alain Pinel Realtors, Amador Valley Driving School, Body Balance, Characterz Cafe and Coffee Roasterz, Better Homes and Gardens Tri-Valley Realty, Big O Tires, Peets Coffee, State Farm Insurance and Vitality Bowls.