Tri-Valley Turkey Burn Planned Thanksgiving Morning

PLEASANTON, CA — The East Bay community is encouraged to burn off the turkey and pie ahead of time while giving back to those in need by participating in the second annual Tri-Valley Turkey Burn Thanksgiving morning.

The free event will be held at Ken Mercer Sports and Recreation Community Park, and starts at 9 a.m. on November 24. Those participating can choose from a 5K or 10K walk or run. In honor of the Thanksgiving day spirit, participants are encouraged to download in advance an event bib that says, “I am thankful for…” and then to add a phrase completing the sentence.

"Last year we had a fantastic gathering of happy families enjoying a health-oriented hometown community gathering,” said event organizer Kevin Greenlee. "Throughout the year, local residents have asked me whether the Thanksgiving Run was going to become a tradition, and I happily told them yes. I was deeply touched by participants' creative and heartfelt 'I'm thankful for...' comments and pictures on race bibs. The event represents an outpouring of thankfulness and love that I think we all agree we need now more than ever."

Pleasanton residents Ron Sutton and Kevin Greenlee helped organized the inaugural event in 2015, which drew about 500 residents from Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore and beyond. The 2015 event collected hundreds of cans of food, which were donated to Shephard’s Gate in Livermore and $2300, which was used for rotary youth service projects.

“Our second annual Tri-Valley Turkey Burn is a fun family event that financially benefits our Rotary Youth Programs all year,” commented race founder W. Ron Sutton, whose non-profit ACCUSPLIT Make A Difference Program is one event sponsor. "Participants last year donated over 700 canned food items that went directly to local food pantries, and new this year they can make donations online when registering. Participants simply sign up, create a race bib, then bring canned donations on the day of the event, and all funds go directly to youth development programs through the Pleasanton North Rotary Foundation."

Click here to register.

Ken Mercer Sports and Recreation Community Park is located at 5800 Parkside Drive in Pleasanton.

Photo courtesy Autumn Johnson/ Patch from Hundreds Participate in First Annual 'Tri-Valley Turkey Burn'