Friday, November 8, 2019

YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase & BCC Rotary Club to Host the 37th Annual Turkey Chase Thursday, November 28

Kids lining up for Tot Trot at Turkey Chase

From our friends at the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase...

YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and BCC Rotary Club to Host the 37th Annual Turkey Chase on Thursday, November 28

Meet mascots Gobble, Giblet and Gravy and walk, run or trot for a great cause!

The YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club have teamed up to host this year’s 37th Annual Turkey Chase. This year’s Grand Marshals are Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Mayor of the Town of Somerset, Jeffrey Slavin.

In addition to the 10K , there is a 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk,  a 1K Run Challenge; and a 50-Meter Tot Trot (for kids 8 and under as of November 28, 2019.)


On Thanksgiving Day, the 10K leads off at 8:30 AM in front of the YMCA (9401 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD) followed by the 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk at 9 AM; the Tot Trot begins at 9:40 AM and the 1 Mile Challenge Run gets underway at 9:55 AM.

The three turkey mascots - Gobble, Giblet and Gravy will be making appearances on Saturday, November 23  at a nearby Whole Food Market (11355 Woodglen Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852) where race packets may be picked up by registrants on November 22 (10 AM to 8 PM), November 23 (10 AM to 6 PM), Nov. 24 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), November 25 (10 AM to 5 PM.) After that, packets will be available at the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase (9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD) on November 27 (10 AM to 6 PM) and on November 28, race day (6 AM to 8:35 AM.)

Turkey Chase has been taking place since 1982 in Bethesda, with participants coming from all over the United States with the highest concentration of runners from Bethesda and surrounding communities. Turkey Chase is the largest 10K in Montgomery County and the largest fundraiser for the YMCA and the BCC Rotary raising over $6 million dollars since the first event. All of the net proceeds benefit youth and families in Montgomery County through YMCA programs and local Rotary charities. This event draws more than 10,000 individuals and families for a morning of healthy competition and a host of other engaging activities for children that promote community and personal wellness.

Registration may be made online at www.turkeychase.com. There is also a special Turkey Chase Brick Campaign where donations may be made to support the overall efforts of the Meditation Garden at the YMCA Bethesda. Donors may purchase an individual brick that will designate them as a Turkey Chase participant.

In addition to runners, walkers and trotters, the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase is also looking for sponsors and volunteers. Interested individuals or companies may contact Tracy Miller at tracy.miller@ymcadc.org.

The event is made possible by sponsors including: Whole Foods; Sanford & Doris Slavin Foundation; Terry and David Ralston; Fred Farshey and Family; AMR Commercial, LLC; SunDun Office Refreshments; RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation; Suburban Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine; Bethesda Magazine; Ruppert Landscape; Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes; Cresa; Carl M. Freeman Foundation; Chevy Chase Automotive; Sandy Spring Bank; Kenwood Golf and Country Club; Breads Unlimited; Print 1; Not Your Average Joe’s; The Neighborhoods of EYA; Dr. Leonard Goldman, P.A.; Marshfield Associates; Loop Water; PepsiCo; Kiwanis Club of Bethesda and Boy Scouts of America.

About the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase:
The YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase has been serving the community on Old Georgetown Road since 1963, with programs and events that focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.

YMCA Youth & Family Services provides FREE services to thousands of county residents each year. A YMCA membership is NOT a requirement. Services including community outreach, after-school programs, and parenting programs provide proactive prevention programs. Counseling, crisis intervention, and therapeutic outdoor adventure programs and camps help get young people and their families on track for health and success.

YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase provides scholarships and financial assistance so people and families in need can participate in childcare, camps, senior programs, and other YMCA programs.

Learn more about the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase at www.ymcadc.org.

About the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club:
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.

The B-CC Rotary Club Foundation awards grants to a wide array of local non-profits and Rotary projects. The foundation is completely volunteer-driven so that 100% of the money it raises goes to the charitable causes it supports.

Some of the past grant recipients of the B-CC Rotary Club foundation include Suburban Hospital St. Luke’s House Greentree Shelter Montgomery Hospice B-CC Rescue Squad Imagination Stage/BAPA Bethesda Cares Montgomery College Foundation. Learn more about the rotary at http://bccrotary.org/.