A local Thanksgiving tradition continued Thanksgiving morning with a new look and new benefactor.
The Turkey Day Dash took over the cart paths at Champions Landing with more than 200 dashers participating in the festivities. Unlike the past 13 installments which served as a major fundraiser for Walnut School’s PTO, the event this year, and in years to come for the foreseeable future, will benefit Southwick House which is in the process of a better than $3.5 million capital campaign to construct a new 9,000 square foot facility at 115 East Logan.
Southwick House Board President Jeremy Dorsey was ecstatic with the turnout and deemed the first dash for Southwick a tremendous success.
Southwick House Executive Director Susan Brinkman says they were honored to continue the Thanksgiving tradition.
Overseeing operations again this year were members of the Emporia Recreation Commission including Assistant Director of Rec Operations Amanda Gutierrez. Gutierrez says they are always proud to support the cause noting their tagline is “active for life.”
Among the participants this year was Jann Briggs who says the dash has been a tradition for their family for years and she is happy to see it continue.
Another familiar face to the proceedings Thursday was Asher Delmott who has become known for his lightning-fast finishes in local 5Ks. This year, however, Delmott was taking things a bit slower as he had a special partner joining him for the run.
Southwick House is filling a niche for women, children and families left largely open when its predecessor, Plumb Place, ended operations in late 2020.
Click here for a YouTube short of the Turkey Day Dash
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
