Sunday, November 24th marked the 58th annual Village of Mamaroneck Turkey Trot at Harbor Island Park. The event includes two races, a one-mile Gobbler run and a 5K, and has been a holiday tradition in the Mamaroneck community since the 1960s. This year, over 1,400 runners participated across the two races. 

Runners for the Turkey Trot collect monetary pledges to “sponsor” their running. All proceeds go to a runner’s chosen charity. Many MHS students ran for the Students for Senegal Club. With 100 members fundraising on Pledge It (a fundraising website), they managed to raise over $17,158, smashing their $15,000 goal. 

This money will be put towards new shoes and clothing as well as the expansion of educational programs in STEM or job training for students in Senegal. MHS chemistry teacher Amary Seck founded Students for Senegal to give back to the community there that he is from. Over the past few years, the Turkey Trot has been a key part of the club’s fundraising efforts as it is their second-most profitable event, after their yearly gala. 

Seck attributes the success of the Turkey Trot to students and community members’ willingness to get involved, stating that “The town of Mamaroneck benefits from it and Students for Senegal does too.” Through the club’s diligent efforts, the race has created two opportunities rolled into one: setting a running goal for oneself and a fundraising goal to help others.

For others, the event has simply become tradition. Gabby Robb O’Hagan (ʼ26) notes that she ran the race almost every year with her siblings while in elementary school. What Robb O’Hagan most enjoys about the event is “the atmosphere in the area before and after the run.” As runners of all different skill sets, ages and interest levels line up next to each other on the start line, there’s a sense of unity with a hint of nervousness as everyone waits for the race to begin. The act of the community coming together to achieve a common goal is one of the many things that makes the Turkey Trot so special. 

Maya Hennessey (ʼ26) agrees that the shared experience of simply having “a fun time together doing something special for [the] community” makes this race so unique. 

In addition, the Turkey Trot welcomes competitive and leisurely runners alike, and many of MHS’s own runners showed up and showed off at this year’s race. As a cross country (XC) and track runner herself, Hennessey thinks that “this course is quite simple compared to other XC races,” which lends itself to a fun and enjoyable experience. 

For nearly the last six decades, the Turkey Trot has been a great way for people all over the community to celebrate the holiday together.  In theme with the holiday of giving back, the Turkey Trot has become Mamaroneck’s way of bringing one community together to help another.