Elmhurst's Turkey Trot expects record turnout

ELMHURST – Every year, thousands of families flood Elmhurst streets on Thanksgiving Day morning to complete the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot before enjoying their day off with plenty of food.

“It’s the 31st year, and what’s fun about it is you see it’s become a tradition for a lot of families,” race founder and Executive Director Dan Gibbons said.

He’s expecting record-breaking attendance this year between 9,000 and 10,000 people. Gibbons said online registration was already up 21 percent from last year as of Wednesday. If last year is any indication, he expects participants to represent 36 different states and six different countries.

As it has since its inception in 1984, the 5K family fun run supports DuPage County food pantries in an effort to combat hunger.

“I hope there comes a time when we can still do this race but do it for another charity because there is no hunger problem in DuPage County,” Gibbons said.

This year’s race beneficiaries include Loaves and Fishes Community Services, West Suburban Community Pantry, People’s Resource Center, United Community Concerns Association, DuPage PADS, Catholic Charities –DuPage, Elmhurst Walk-in Ministry and Elmhurst/Yorkfield Food Pantry.

“The fact of the matter is that there are so many people who are living from paycheck to paycheck,” Gibbons said.

He praised DuPage County officials but said the race aims to fill the gaps where necessary.

“A child shouldn’t have that disadvantage,” Gibbons said of those who go hungry each day.

This year will bring the race’s collective donations past the $3 million mark since it began 31 years ago.

More than 200 volunteers will show up at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving Day to set up for the run while it’s still dark out.

As has become tradition, the Chicago Blackhawks’ Jim Cornelison will sing the National Anthem before the race, accompanied by a pair of Marines.

Marines Rita O’Reilly and her fiance, Brian Kollias – who will be married in May – will make up the Honor Guard for the race.

“She’s just got a heart of gold,” Gibbons said of O’Reilly, who is the Marine Corps League Department of Illinois Toys for Tots chairwoman.

While the race has established several traditions through the years, this will be the second year it follows a new course through downtown Elmhurst.

Mary Lou Mastro, president and CEO of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, will be this year’s honorary starter along with Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley, Chief of Police Michael Ruth and Fire Chief Jeff Bacidore.

In the spirit of family fun, the race doesn’t use microchips to time runners and many come dressed as turkeys or pilgrims.

A powerful moment Gibbons remembers each year is looking out at the crowd of thousands and thinking about how they’ll all go home later to a nice warm meal with family and the additional families who might have the same experience thanks to the race.

“People plan their holidays around this because it’s become such a tradition,” Gibbons said.