Annual Turkey Trot raises $5,000
Posted By TINA PEPLINSKIE, STAFF WRITER
Posted 1 year ago
More than 200 runners and walkers enjoyed perfect conditions Saturday morning as they participated in the fourth annual five-kilometre Dr. Kim Armstrong Turkey Trot at Riverside Park.
The event is meant to honour the memory of Dr. Armstrong, who died Sept. 13, 2005 of a massive stroke, and raise money for the community.
This year's run, the biggest yet, raised about $5,000 which will be used to purchase a piece of equipment that will be donated to the Pembroke Regional Hospital rehabilitation unit in her name as well as $1,000 towards a bursary at Fellowes High School which is awarded to the graduating student who best demonstrates Dr. Armstrong's qualities of athletics, academics, school spirit and care for others in the community.
"Since Kim died of a stroke we want to continue to support the rehab unit," said Nancy Warren, a member of the Turkey Trot organizing committee and close friend of Dr. Armstrong. "We want to keep all of the money in the community."
She said the organizing committee facilitates the event, but she thanked participants and sponsors for making it all happen.
"It is because of them we can do these great things in the community," she said. "Every little bit helps."
The focus of the event is families. An incentive offered to attract families is a 25- pound turkey for the largest extended family taking part in the run. This year's winners were 17 members of the Serviss/Gibson family.
Ms. Warren is pleased to see a number of returning families each year but also noted this year's event attracted a number of first-time participants, including the adult male winner Ian Walterhouse who is originally from Foymount.
He and his wife participate in a lot of races and were looking for a race near home so they decided to register for the Turkey Trot. They had intended to run the race last year, but the weather deterred them.
He was very pleased with the organization of the event and the course itself so he plans to make the event part of his annual Thanksgiving tradition.
"The course was awesome and the pointer people were great so you knew where you were going," he said after the race. "The weather was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better day."
The overall male winners for the race were Ian Walterhouse, first, Stewart MacPherson, second, and Luka Ledoux, third.
The overall female winners were Donna Saal, first, Kelsey Serviss, second, and Madeline Kelly, third.
In the adult male category, Ian
Walterhouse was first, followed by Billy Burgess in second and Terry Serviss in third.
In the adult female category, the first place finisher was Donna Saal, Joanne Sibbald was second and Katie Chute was third.
In the U18 male category, Stewart MacPherson finished first, followed by Luka Ledoux in second and tied for third were Eric Brown and Joe Kyte.
In the U18 female category, Kelsey service placed first, Brittany Morris was second and Lorena Dobson placed third.
In the U12 male category, Max Serviss was first, followed by Skyler Surnoskie in second and Christian Cadieux in third place.
The U13 winner was Madeline Kelly, followed by Allison Schroeder Instance in second and Michaela Tate in third.
