EDENTON – On a chilly and sunny Thursday morning, runners, walkers, and cyclists gathered at Queen Anne Park (also known as Elizabeth Vann Moore Park) for the 11th Annual Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving Day tradition that combines fitness with philanthropy.
The event, which sends participants on a 3.1 mile, scenic route through Hayes Plantation and back, supports the Community Snack Program of Edenton – a grassroots initiative with humble beginnings that continues to make a significant impact on local children.
Event organizer Nichole Hughes, who runs the nonprofit, shared the heartwarming origin story of both the Turkey Trot and the program it benefits.
“When my daughter (Maycee Hughes) was in second grade, her classmate didn’t have a snack,” Hughes explained to the crowd of about 40 participants. “She and a classmate created a plan and a schedule to bring a snack for that child. That’s really how this program got started.”
Nichole’s daughter is now a sophomore at John A. Holmes High School.
In 2019, Maycee received the Community Action Hero Award from the North Carolina Association of Teacher Assistants. The award recognizes public school students who make a difference in educaiton by showing others that you are never too young to make a difference.
The Turkey Trot itself was inspired by Nichole’s experience with the Boulevard Bolt — a Thanksgiving race now in its 32nd year — held in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I wanted to bring it home,” she said. “I wanted to bring it to where I was so that I could enjoy it.”
This year’s turnout was particularly meaningful, as organizers had considered scaling back the event. Instead, the community responded enthusiastically, with families and pets joining in the fun of burning Thanksgiving calories while supporting a worthy cause.
Participants were encouraged to donate individual snacks or make monetary contributions to the Community Snack Program, ensuring local children have access to nutritious snacks throughout the school year.
As Hughes wished the crowd a Happy Thanksgiving before the start, it was clear that this annual tradition embodies the true spirit of the holiday – gratitude, community, and giving back.
