Today’s Turkey Trot supports mental health services

TEXARKANA, Texas — It’s time to get your turkey legs moving with Community Healthcore’s sixth annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot today at Spring Lake Park.

This year’s turkey family tradition features a 5K and 1-mile walk around the park with optional chip timing for the 5K.

Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the race will be held at 8 a.m. The on-site entry fee is $35 for the 5K or 1 mile and $10 for strollers and/ or pets. Medals will be given to the overall male and female winners and age group winners. All other events are free, including a costume contest, kids gobble run, live music and bounce houses.

Jeanell Cannon, regional administrator for Bowie, Cass and Red River counties, said, “Thousands of Turkey Trots are being ran on Thanksgiving Day nationwide. It is very humbling to see the support for this event grow each year. Every year we get more and more participants not just locally but from all other states as well. Any time we can share our mission about mental illness is a great day.”

All proceeds from the event will be returned to the programs provided by Community Healthcore, the local mental health authority for nine counties. It served more than 16,000 citizens seeking services last year, including children and adults with mental illness and substance use disorders, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and veterans. This year’s focus is on providing education on mental health first aid and bringing awareness to the expanded children’s programs.

“The support from the public for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot has been amazing for us,” Cannon said. “It gives us the opportunity to educate the public on mental health and remove the stigma of mental illness. We have many families and individuals that have participated every year since the beginning. The foundation wanted to create an event that would become a family custom each Thanksgiving and we think we have accomplished that goal. Last year was the largest number of runners, over 200, but we hope to exceed that amount this year. At this time we have 180 registered, so come on out and let’s set records again.”

For more information, contact Cannon at 903-831-7585 or at jeanell.cannon@communityhealthcore.com.

Submitted photo ■ Community Healthcore’s annual Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. today. Proceeds raised by the race help fund programs provided by the agency, which serves nine counties.