To the Trotters, Sponsors, Fans, Elementary School, Wes and Jerry, Woodstock Policy Department, Refreshment Group,The Awesome Photographer, The Band Woody and the John,John, John and Jack and the Traffic Controllers, The Woodstock High School Students, The Registration Team and Everyone that made it all happen
On behalf of everyone here at Zack’s Place, we would like to thank you for your support of the 2018 12th annual Turkey Trot. Despite the frigid temperatures, the event was a success with over 1300 walkers and runners and raising $70,000.00. The TT is our biggest fundraiser every year and the proceeds are essential to our annual budget, which goes directly towards providing and funding important programs offered here each day at Zack’s Place.
Because of the cold temperatures the opening ceremony took place inside the gym before the actual trotting. The band and the refreshment table were both set up in the gym, the registration took place in the cafeteria and we put our wonderful photo booth in a corner of the upstairs hallway. Everything worked out perfectly, a well-oiled machine, including the flow of traffic inside the building!
It was a beautiful Thanksgiving morning, despite the bone chilling cold…..a perfect day for a 5K race, in our quaint little town of Woodstock Vermont. The day felt very festive with the many turkey hats and costumes and all the happy smiling faces milling about! It is a community event in every sense of the word a great time to visit with friends and family and a wonderful way to start your Thanksgiving morning and get in the holiday spirit!
We had an amazing turn out of trotters and volunteers, including the band, the many individuals working on registration and t-shirt distribution, the traffic control gang, the “cone men”, the refreshment ladies, the photographers, the interact group from WUHS and of course our fabulous full size turkey, who by the way, was actually sweating, while standing outside greeting the trotters.
J
Everyone showed up with a smile on their face, ready to work, walk or run!
We started the festivities around 9:45, hosting the “Cupid Shuffle” as a warm up before the trot. The mass majority of people were happily dancing and shuffling throughout the gym anticipating the cold and the 10am race start; it was a magical sight to see! Next year we are hoping to set a Guinness Book of World Records with the Cupid Shuffle, exceeding the current record of 1500 people. We also had a community sing along of the National Anthem lead by community member and State Representative Charlie Kimbell another heartwarming moment. The race started on time without a hitch as 1300 people braved the cold.
Overall, it was another successful Turkey Trot and none of it would have been possible without all the support of our amazing sponsors, In-kind donors, volunteers and participants, we are grateful to everyone who participated and for your constant support and generosity!
Community support is vital to our success and together we make a significant difference in the lives of people with special needs. Your generosity helps touch the lives of some very special people. We wish you a wonderful holiday season.
Warm regards,
The Zack's Place Staff, Board, Participants and Families
