A US Army specialist taking part in a turkey-trot (Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke, via Wikipedia CC2.0)
Nov. 13, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A virtual turkey-trot starts Friday to raise funds for PS/IS 78Q.
The event will take place between Nov. 20 and Nov. 29 and participants have the option to sign up for a 5K or 1-mile race.
Participants are free to run the route of their choosing and then upload their times as well as photos to the race website. Registration is open until Nov. 29.
The cost to enter is $25 for adults, and $15 for runners 17 years and under. Participants must register on the event website, with all proceeds going directly to the PTA which supports PS/IS 78Q, located in Hunters Point.
Participants are encouraged to dress up in turkey-themed outfits when they run or walk the distance-and prizes will be offered for the best costumes.
The event is being held at a time when the PTA needs to raise funds to pay for school programming and to pay for teacher assistants, according to Kelly Craig, co-president of the PS/IS 78Q PTA.
The PTA has struggled to raise funds this year since many fundraising events have had to be canceled due to COVID-19, Craig said.
“We have had to come up with creative ways to raise money and we also wanted to do something fun in which all students and parents can take part,” Craig said. “Who doesn’t love a turkey trot, right!?”
The event is set up so all can participate–whether people are in Long Island City or not.
“Some students [learning remotely] are out of town or even upstate so this is a great way for them to all come together safely and share a laugh,” Craig said.
There will be prizes not only for the best costumes but also for the fastest runners. The prizes mainly consist of gift cards donated by local restaurants.
There will be gift cards for the fastest runners–both men and woman–aged 18 and over in both the 5K and 1 mile categories. There will be similar prizes for the fastest 5K and 1-mile runners aged 17 and under.
The PTA’s fundraising events typically involve a fall festival, a spring gala and a spring fair. All of these events have been canceled this year.
Craig said the idea for the turkey trot stemmed from the success of the 2020 LIC Post Virtual Waterfront Run in which runners raised money for the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy.
The PTA has won the praise of school officials for organizing the turkey trot.
Louis Pavone, PS/IS 78Q principal, said that it is important for residents and the school to come together for such events. He said that those relationships help keep families and the community engaged with one another.
“Having a virtual experience allows both our remote and in-person students and their families to participate with our entire community to support the school,” Pavone said.
To register click here. The website also has a donation button for those looking to make additional contributions.
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