Jackson Fuhrmann, 6, of Geneva, donned a turkey hat to run in the Youth Mile in the annual Fox and Turkey Races Thanksgiving Day in Batavia. He and his mother, Jennifer, have been participating in the races the past three years.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
The 17th annual Fox and Turkey Races in Batavia had more than 2,400 runners registered — up 123 percent from last year — for the Thanksgiving Day runs, according to the Batavia Park District.
The event consisted of 4-Mile and Youth Mile races, hosted by the Fox River Trail Runners.
The races serve as a food drive to benefit the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. Runners and spectators were encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the food pantry. In 2012, the club raised more than $10,000 in cash donations and hundreds of pounds of food for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry.
The Fox River Trail Runners is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 to promote running in the central Fox Valley. More information on the group can be found at foxrivertrailrunners.org.
Amy Matthews of Springfield runs with her daughters, Karigan, 6, left, and Addie, 3 in the Youth Mile in the annual Fox and Turkey Races in Batavia on Thanksgiving Day. Matthews grew up in Bartlett and brings her family to visit her parents, Keith and Bev Christensen, now living in Hampshire, every year for Thanksgiving. This is the first time they participated in the race and have decided it will become a family tradition.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Matthew Conley, 11, of North Aurora, nears the finish line of the Youth Mile in the annual Fox and Turkey Races in Batavia on Thanksgiving Day. This is the first year hes run in the event. He was joined by his younger brother, Ethan Potts, 5.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
And theyre off! Kids rush westbound on Houston Street from the starting line in the Youth Mile of the annual Fox and Turkey Races in Batavia on Thanksgiving Day.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com