Last Updated on November 19, 2021 10:58 am
Be a fundraiser for Hospitality House and win a $500 Mast General Store shopping spree
As previously announced, the High Country Turkey Trot 5K, the largest 5K in the High Country with an average attendance around 1,200, will once again take place virtually in 2021. The annual Thanksgiving Day race, benefitting Hospitality House of Northwest N.C., has been taking place on the Boone Greenway Trail since 2011.
Like last year, this year’s event is being billed as, ‘High Country Turkey Trot Week.’ The High Country Turkey Trot 5K, presented by Mast General Store, takes place November 19 through 25 and includes a Facebook 5K race, souvenir race bibs, commemorative t-shirts and a fundraising contest.
For the fundraising contest, the participant who raises the most money over $1,000 will win a $500 shopping spree at Mast General Store. Second and third place will each receive $250 and $100 Mast General Store gift cards, respectively. The fundraising contest is underway, and participants can sign up at HCTurkeyTrot.org.
“Winter is upon us,” states Hospitality House chief development director Todd Carter. “The funds raised each year by the Turkey Trot are critical to meet our increased seasonal demand for services. While I recognize that everyone is ‘zoomed out’ and ‘virtually exhausted,’ we really need people to register as racer, runner or walker and help us raise money.”
Those unable to race or run are encouraged to visit HCTurkeyTrot.org and make a general donation to help Hospitality House meet that increased demand as wells as the ongoing cost increases brought on by COVID-19.
Runners wishing to compete in the Facebook 5K can run the race anytime during Turkey Trot Week and post a photo with their timed result; via Garmin, Connect, FitBit, Apple Watch or other timing device, to the Facebook event page by midnight on November 25. Winners will be announced on Saturday, November 27. The top three overall men’s and women’s finishers will each receive a $20 Stick Boy Bread Company gift card and $20 Mast General Store gift card. Certificates will be awarded in ten-year age divisions to the top finisher.
There are two different registration options available online at HCTurkeyTrot.org. General registration is available for $30 and includes a downloadable souvenir race bib. T-shirt registration is available for $40 and includes a long-sleeve commemorative t-shirt and downloadable souvenir race bib. Both registration levels are for adults and children with t-shirt sizes available in youth medium and adult small, medium, large, extra-large and xx-large.
Beginning next week, commemorative souvenir T-shirts will be made available for drive-thru pickup and will be shipped to non-local participants.
Since 2011, the High Country Turkey Trot has raised over $250,000 and close to 10,000 pounds of food to support the mission of Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina, a regional housing and homeless services agency providing housing, hunger relief and crisis assistance in seven counties.
Continues Carter, “I know that we made the right decision for the community; however, we are saddened, nonetheless. I’m hopeful that next year we can welcome back runners from all across the United States to the Boone Greenway Trail for a record-setting celebration.”
For additional 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 HospHouse.org, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok at @HospHouse; or on Twitter @HospHouseNWNC.
