On Thanksgiving Day, as thousands across DuPage County prepared to stuff themselves on turkey, 3,726 adults and children burned off calories in anticipation of the coming feasts.
Their exercise wasn’t aimed at making room for more food; they were participating in the annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot, a 5K race held in downtown Elmhurst to benefit food pantries and homeless shelters.
Dan Gibbons of Elmhurst began this Thanksgiving Day tradition 14 years ago with 74 runners and no sponsors.
This year’s group of runners was the largest ever, and some of the $40,000 raised through pledges will be donated to the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation, which supports 200 food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in the metropolitan area. Some of the money will be donated to DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), which provides overnight shelter in area churches from November through March.
Each year, Gibbons draws in more and more volunteers and runners. Joe Kelly of Villa Park started this year’s race with his jazzed-up rendition of “Turkey in the Straw,” played on his bugle.
For many participants, such as Tom Kuhlman and his son Kevin, 13, of Glen Ellyn, the run provides family togetherness. “And it is better than sleeping in,” said Kevin Kuhlman.
For a few runners, such as Sugar Moran of River Forest, Tiffany Coffey of Chicago and Bubble Degroot of Chicago, who came decked out in their evening finest, the event was a chance to preen just a little. They were there to show Julie Kastholm of Elmhurst, their former college roommate, that “we still look good,” Moran said.
