If you’ve ever toed the starting line of the Rappahannock Area YMCA’s annual Turkey Trot 5k race, you know why this 3.1-mile fun run has become a fixture on the Thanksgiving calendar for so many Fredericksburg-area families.

 

There’s something for everybody—from serious runners pursuing podium positions, to goofballs going the distance in plush turkey suits, to families reconnecting after a long journey home.

 

But you might not know that this annual race does a lot more than make you feel better about gorging on stuffing and pie later in the day.

 

The Turkey Trot, supported by Atlantic Builders, Mary Washington Healthcare and the Coker family, is the largest annual fundraiser for the Rappahannock Area YMCA’s Impact Programs. These programs are part of the Y’s commitment to promote health and wellness beyond the walls of its four area branches.

 

The Turkey Trot provides vital support to:

·       YMCA Bright Beginnings – This community outreach program provides children in need with new clothes and school supplies to start the school year. The Y organizes planned shopping days and volunteers to shop one-on-one with each child, part of a fun-filled day that includes a bus ride with singing and cheering and a healthy breakfast. Bright Beginnings supports more than 300 children each year.

·       2nd Grade Learn to Swim – For six weeks during the school year, the Rappahannock Area YMCA offers second-grade students free swim lessons through the Safety Around Water Program. The lessons equip children with the skills they need to be confident in and around water. Local school boards also help support this program, which delivers a vital life skill in a state where drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children.

·       YMCA Power Scholars Academy – This five-week summer academy aims to ensure more area children are performing at grade level when school starts. The Y works with area school systems to identify children in Title 1 schools who are identified as at-risk for summer learning loss. Scholars gain an average of two months of reading and math skills and have a 95% attendance rate.

·       Special Needs Program – The Rappahannock Area YMCA welcomes more than 425 adults and 250 children with special needs each year. The Y has special activities designed to focus on physical, mental and health benefits. Annual events, including an adult Easter Egg Hunt, a Special Needs Dance and the Giving Garden give adults with special needs important opportunities to have fun, make friends and give back to their community.

·       The Jon Fried Tennis & Education Academy – This U.S. Tennis Association-affiliated program delivers lessons to children 4 to 16 regardless of the ability to pay. Participants are equipped with racquets, shoes and apparel at no charge to their families. The Academy also teaches children about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, and serves balanced meals.

·       Open Doors – This program is at the heart of the Y’s mission in the Fredericksburg community. Open Doors is the Y’s scholarship program, allowing people to participate in Y programs regardless of the ability to pay. Each year, the Rappahannock Area YMCA distributes more than $750,000 in support to members and participants. Open Doors discounts help people access membership, programming, lessons, wellness and healthcare classes and the Y’s School Aged Child Care program.

 

Come visit any of the branches of the Rappahannock Area YMCA and you’ll see these programs in action—and a lot more. The Y is truly the health and wellness hub for the entire Fredericksburg community.

 

Parents love the free on-site childcare available during workouts, as well as the youth aquatics, basketball and other programs. Best of all, when you join the Y you aren’t just doing something to improve your own health—you’re also supporting important wellness programs for those in need. It truly is More than Just a Gym!

 

Learn more about the Rappahannock Area YMCA at family-ymca.org.

 

The 32nd Annual YMCA Turkey Trot

 

Nov. 28, 2024

James Monroe High School

 

Run or walk the 5k course through scenic downtown Fredericksburg! Children 12 and under have the option to run the 1-mile race.

Take advantage of special early-bird pricing now through Oct. 31!

Learn more and register at family-ymca.org/programs/races/turkey-trot

 

New this year: Tot Trot

Runners 5 and under can join in the fun on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 4pm. The inaugural Tot Trot will take them one lap around the James Monroe High School track for an untimed fun run!