Annual Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K Coming To Bel Air Thanksgiving Morning

BEL AIR, MD — Lace up those tennis shoes and get ready to run (or walk). For more than 25 years, Marylanders have participated in the Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K on Thanksgiving morning. There are six locations across central Maryland that draw more than 15,000 participants, including in Bel Air.

Walkers and joggers will meet at McComas Funeral Home at 50 W. Broadway St. They will go down the historic streets of downtown Bel Air and end at the scenic Ma and Pa Trail.

Each year approximately $1 million is raised to support the Y Open Doors Fund, which enables access to and inclusion in Y membership and all of its youth development programs for those who need the help. Food donations also are made at this event to help stock the Y’s three FreshMart food pantries, which provides Thanksgiving groceries for families in the region who are food insecure.

Volunteers are needed the day of the event and week in advance. Those wanting to volunteer can contact Suzanne Green at suzannegreen@ymaryland.org.

“The very act of so many people coming together for a morning of exercise, community and family bonding while supporting the Y’s critical community work is awe-inspiring on so many levels. I firmly believe that the Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K is one of the best, most positive community-building events of the year. It's hard to not have fun and feel good about life when you participate in it,” said John Hoey, president and CEO of the Y in Central Maryland.

The annual event will start at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23. A virtual option also is available.

To register for the event, visit yturkeytrot.org.