Make Your Miles Matter This Thanksgiving at the Tampa YMCA Turkey Gobble Road Race
Before gathering around the table this Thanksgiving, hundreds of runners, walkers and families will lace up their sneakers for a Tampa Bay holiday tradition, the Tampa YMCA Turkey Gobble Road Race. Held on Thanksgiving morning, this fun and festive event celebrates community and gratitude while giving back in a meaningful way.
Proceeds from the Turkey Gobble directly benefit the Tampa YMCA’s healthy living initiatives, including the Diabetes Prevention Program, Pedaling for Parkinson’s Program, Cancer Survivor Alumni Program and full funding for our Thrivers Club Program. Each of these life-changing initiatives supports individuals and families across our community in their journey toward improved health and well-being.
The Cancer Survivor Alumni Program and Thrivers Club hold a special place in this effort. The two free programs provide adults and children affected by cancer with a safe and supportive environment to participate in physical and social activities designed to strengthen the whole person.
For some participants, the cause behind the race is personal. Colleen Brzezinski (pictured in our Featured Image), a longtime YMCA member, passionate YMCA supporter and wife of YMCA Governance Board Member Tom Brzezinski, knows firsthand how impactful our healthy living programs can be. In 2018, Colleen was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, the same week she lost her mother to the disease. Amid heartbreak and uncertainty, she found strength through the Y.
“The Cancer Survivorship and Wellness Program, formally LIVESTRONG, was life-changing. It gave me hope and a community that understood what I was going through. Once I joined, I recruited six fellow survivors to go through the program,” Colleen shared.
She adds, “Almost six years later, and I am still meeting up with my Alumni Cancer Survivor Group for Monday night workouts with our amazing coach, Mary Anne.”
Her story is one of many that highlights the life-changing impact of the Y’s mission-driven programs. Among the next generation of survivors is Katherine Conrad, a determined participant in the Thrivers Club.
Katherine shared, “I am glad to be in Thrivers because I am getting stronger than before. My trainer is kind and understanding. I have a weekly workout that is personalized for me, and she will help me do what I want as well. I am also glad to have a YMCA membership. I am learning to exercise like I never have before. By the end, I hope to be stronger, faster, have a stronger heart and be really good at jump rope.”
Stories like Colleen’s and Katherine’s remind us that the Tampa YMCA is more than a place to work out; it’s a place where healing, hope and community come together.
So before you carve the turkey or watch the big game, join the Tampa YMCA for the Turkey Gobble Road Race and make your miles matter. Every step you take supports survivors and thrivers in our community. Register today and be part of something truly meaningful this Thanksgiving!
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- From Preschool to After School: The YMCA Has You Covered This School Year
*Presented by the YMCA