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High Country Turkey Trot 5K Registration in Full Swing, Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available for the High Country’s Largest 5K

 

The 8th consecutive Turkey Trot will take place Thanksgiving morning.

For the eight consecutive year the High Country Turkey Trot 5K will take place Thanksgiving morning, Thursday November 22, on the Boone Greenway Trail at the Clawson-Burnley Park entrance. Coach John Weaver, retired Director of Track, Field and Cross Country for Appalachian State University, and Big Kahuna Timing will be assisting with the event, utilizing fully automatic chip timing for the 5K Race.

The race will kick off at 9:00 a.m. with the Fun Run / Walk, for casual runners, joggers and walkers following fifteen minutes later. Named a Top Ten Holiday 5K race by Our State magazine, this destination race attracts over 1,000 participants from 26 different States and 55 unique North Carolina towns and cities.

“I can hardly believe that it’s been eight years since we started,” states Hospitality House director of development Todd Carter. “Each year we see many familiar runners who’ve been with us since the beginning; as well as, first-timers from all over the United States who’ve heard what a beautiful Thanksgiving Day 5K it is.”

Since 2011, the High Country Turkey Trot has raised over $180,000 and close to 7,500 pounds of food to support the mission of Hospitality House, a regional nonprofit Transitional Living Facility and Hunger, Homelessness and Crisis Relief Resource Center serving seven rural North Carolina counties.

Presented by Mast General Store in conjunction with ECRS Software Corporation, Echota Resort & Real Estate, The Winkler Organization, Valle Crucis Conference Center, Molecular Toxicology Inc., and Saint Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, this year’s High Country Turkey Trot is still accepting sponsorships as a premier marketing opportunity for local and regional businesses.

Leigh Cooper Wallace Winner’s Chute

The event also features the Leigh Cooper Wallace winner’s chute, dedicated in 2013, a costume contest, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, healthy snacks, outdoor fire pits and gas heaters. Stick Boy pumpkin pies will be awarded to the first, second and third place overall finishes for men and women. Race results will be provided in overall and age division formats with first-place finishers in each age division receiving a certificate.

Everyone is welcome to participate, including families with children, strollers and pets on a leash. All participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items – canned goods, boxed goods, dry goods – for donation to the Hospitality House Bread of Life Hunger Relief programs which served over 158,500 meals last year in the Community Kitchen and Food Pantry.

Past winners of the Costume Contest

Pre-registration, available online at HCTurkeyTrot.org, is $30 for adults & teens and $10 for kids 12 and under. Adult & teen registration includes a commemorative long sleeve t-shirt while kids registration includes a Turkey Trot refrigerator magnet. Kids 12 & under wishing to receive a commemorative t-shirt, need to register as an adult/teen and choose t-shirt size small. Early-bird registration deadline is November 9 to qualify for a t-shirt and November 16 before prices increase.

Back by popular demand is the Sleep-In Option. Perfect for someone who’s not a morning person, is stuck at home cooking the Turkey or just loves to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, this option allows folks to participate and still receive a commemorative long-sleeve T-Shirt!

For sponsorship information and questions email Carter at todd@hosphouse.org or call 828.264.1237 ext. 6.

To learn more about Hospitality House, visit them online at www.HospHouse.org, follow them on Twitter @HospHouseBoone, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HospHouse, Instagram @hosphouse or Snapchat @hosphouse.