RUN - WALK - BIKE - JOG & IN-LINE SKATE

A SPIRIT OF THANKS AND GIVING:

In 1982 we began accepting your donations, which go to the Arizona Affiliate of the American Diabetes Association.  YOU ALL HAVE NOW DONATED A TOTAL OF $337,395 TO THIS CHARITY !!! These funds are used to send needy Arizona diabetic children to a specially equipped summer camp (a cost of about $700.00 per child). YOUR DONATIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND REALLY ARE APPRECIATED !!! You have brought a lot of HAPPINESS AND SPECIAL LIFELONG MEMORIES that can only be experienced by a child during the unique thrill and adventure of summer camp.

Our first Turkey Trot was on Thanksgiving Day, 1980. The 40 participants jogged, walked or rode bikes a distance of 5½ miles along this beautiful course. The route starts near Camelback Mountain, winds through Arcadia and the Biltmore and ends at Granada Park, near Squaw Peak. For many this was their first try at a distance of 5½ miles. The results were: EVERYONE FINISHED AND THE COMMENTS WERE SO FAVORABLE that we decided to do it again the following year. And we have continued to gather with our friends on Thanksgiving morning for this event every year since... it's stayed a small, low-key, casual, "do-it-yourself" event.  We intentionally keep the invitation list small so we can all have a chance to meet and enjoy one another.

As in previous years this is not a race and no one is particularly interested in who finishes first and no one is last. Also, there are no police or officials stationed at the road crossings! All who choose to participate are completely responsible for their own health and safety.  (PLEASE, PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR THE AUTOMOBILES WHEN CROSSING THE STREETS; THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY !!!! PARENTS MUST SUPERVISE THEIR CHILDREN.)  If you choose to participate you are totally responsible for you and your families safety.

This year we expect to have about 150 participants with a very wide range of age and athletic inaptitude. You can walk, jog, skate or ride anything non-motorized. And we have an adjacent route this year for "experienced" inline skaters. There will be several attempting this distance for the first time - they will certainly appreciate your advice and encouragement in-route. Occasionally, if the moon is properly aligned, and we get very lucky, an informal water station "sometimes" occurs around 32nd Street, but don't count on it. Refreshments and good cheer await at the end. 

The purpose of the Turkey Trot Invitational Event is to add to all of our enjoyment of this special holiday. This happens to us all in different ways. To some it's the camaraderie during the event to others it's the physical experience of putting mind and muscles to a task. For everyone there is the beautiful weather and the exciting winding course along the Arizona Canal. Also it has become IMPORTANT for us to exercise an opportunity to GENEROUSLY LEND A HELPING HAND to our fellow Arizonans:...Please open your generous hearts once again.....THANKS!

Join with us this year in exceeding our goal of $370,000 in total cumulative donations.

AS A PARTICIPANT OF "THE TURKEY TROT" WE AGAIN APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS OF WHICH EVERY PENNY GOES TO THE LOCAL DIABETES CHAPTER, AND IS SPECIFICALLY USED FOR THESE NEEDY YOUNG ARIZONA CHILDREN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!!!

SEE YOU THANKSGIVING MORNING !!!
CANAL ROUTE FOR JOGGERS, WALKERS & BIKERS

WHEN:	Thanksgiving Day, 23 November 2006 - Walkers & Skaters start at 8:40 am ... Sharp!!!  Joggers and Bikers start at 9:00 am.  We've done this "staggered start" for several years now.  It has added to great socializing enroute.  Get to the start early (8:15 am) and join in the socializing - it's fun!!!
WHERE:	Everyone starts at 56th Street and the Arizona Canal (just north of Indian School Road).  Plenty of parking in the church parking lot.  Everyone finishes at Maryland and the Arizona Canal (just west of 20th Street).  Distance of 5.5 "short", scenic miles.  (It is a good idea to be on the south side of the canal after 32nd Street.)  Skaters have a different route and go a little farther.  (This is not difficult but definitely is not for beginning skaters!).
HOW:	Just show up ready for a good time!  No winners, no losers. NO AID STATIONS OR WATER AND NO HELP GETTING ACROSS THE STREETS!!!  Seriously.  BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL CROSSING THE STREETS!!!  There will be no police or officials to stop traffic so YOU MUST STOP and YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO CROSS !!!  Please stay with your children and supervise them.  (This concept of each person being completely responsible for their own safety has worked for 27 years - please help maintain this perfect record).
SHIRTS:	Once again we've made arrangements to obtain the INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS "Terrific Turkey Trot T-Shirts" at $10.00 for the adult shirts and $5.00 for children's shirts.  Please indicate how many, what sizes, and also include a "separate check" for the shirts made out to: Whitneybell Architects Inc
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