Turkey Trot participants Thursday morning will "run now, eat later."

With visions of turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy piled high on their plates, some 5,000 runners will be thinking of that slogan as they lace up their shoes and hit the streets of Naperville for the 12th annual Turkey Trot organized by the Naperville Noon Lions.

"It's really become a family event, and most families participate in it with their relatives and friends who come in from out of town," said Bill McManus, Lions Club member and Turkey Trot race director. "It's basically a competitive family fun type of run, and we do gear the run toward families."

The Turkey Trot has ballooned to one of the Chicago area's largest 5K runs, with 4,950 finishers last year and enough supplies for 6,000 runners this year.

What some may not know is that their Thanksgiving visions - and race entry fees - are helping others in the community see and hear.

Last year the event raised more than $105,000 and allowed many children and people throughout the area to get the hearing and vision screenings and diabetes supplies they need.

"We get a lot of school age children who can't afford an eye exam and they're not seeing correctly," said Bill Cornish, a Lions Club member who has run the Turkey Trot all 12 years. "If it wasn't for the Lions, they would be in a really tough situation."

The Lions Club provides vision testing and glasses, as well as hearing testing and hearing aids for needy people in the Naperville area, including Naperville Unit District 203 and Indian Prairie Unit District 204.

The club also provides diabetes testing supplies because diabetes leads to vision impairment. The group also supports the after-school program at the YMCA, Easter Seals and DONKA, a DuPage County organization that helps people with vision problems become employed.

"Part of the 'feel good' of the day is (you) go have some fun and the benefit is that you're helping other people in need," Cornish said.

The family-friendly event welcomes running strollers. Regular strollers, dogs, skates, scooters and bicycles are prohibited.

Runners receive T-shirts, goody bags and a pancake breakfast from Belgio's Catering after the race.

The top five male and female runners, as well as the top five in each age category, will receive prizes.

Runners may register for $40 the day of the race from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Naperville Central High School, 440 N. Aurora Ave. in Naperville. Registration closes promptly at 7:30 a.m.

Runners will wear disposable chips to record times, and race results will be available by 3 p.m. the day of the race on active.com. For information, call (630) 364-3922 or visit napervillenoonlions.org.

If you go

What: Turkey Trot 5K race

When: 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day

Where: Naperville Central High School, 440 N. Aurora Ave., Naperville

Cost: $40 runners, free for spectators

Info: (630) 364-3922 or napervillenoonlions.org