On Thanksgiving morning last year, 2,800 runners and walkers laced up their sneakers for the 20th annual SMT Turkey Trot in New Cumberland, making it the event’s most successful yet. With a mix of competitive racing and family fun, the Turkey Trot has become a beloved tradition, celebrating community spirit and charitable giving.
Established in memory of Shirley Mae Taylor, the SMT Turkey Trot is organized each year by her daughter and son in law, Mari Lynn Dare and Brad Pate. Reflecting Shirley Mae’s deep love for everything New Cumberland and her unwavering resilience, the event embodies the spirit of community that she so cherished. Since 2007, the Turkey Trot has been a vital source of support for Vickie’s Angel Foundation, raising more than $500,000 to help local families battling cancer. As the single largest event donation outside of our signature Vickie’s Angel Walk, the Turkey Trot has played a crucial role in providing financial assistance to men, women, and children facing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis in central Pennsylvania. Every dollar raised directly benefits those in need, offering a lifeline of hope and relief when it matters most.
Over the years, the Turkey Trot has evolved beyond a simple 5K run into a full-fledged family event. "During the race, if you get a feather out on the course, you will get a prize. If you are able to capture a flag from one of our turkeys, you will win a prize," said Dare. "After the race, you can try your hand at our frozen turkey toss, have a free family photo taken at our photo booth, and enjoy an array of post-race refreshments, including hot chicken corn soup provided by Nick's Cafe. We are so happy that many have participated from the beginning, making it a family tradition. We don’t take that lightly."
The event has not been without its challenges. "One of the first challenges was coming up with a race route that the town would approve," Dare shared. "We were only allowed to close certain streets and had to make sure we left others open. We also had to get PennDOT approval for Bridge Street, as that is a state road. We've had to increase our budget to accommodate the increase in runners and separate the runners from the walkers to keep everything running smoothly."
Unexpected obstacles have also made for some memorable moments. "One year we had a water main break at 3 a.m. and had to reroute the race. Then there was the time that Brad tried to sort the spreadsheet of entries and forgot to include the last column with all the shirt sizes. Almost everyone’s shirt was wrong, so we had to stay up most of the night going through each and every one and correcting them," Dare recounted. "Or the year we decided to try something new and reverse the course. We never even realized that by doing that, we cut off the exit from the park, so no one could leave after the race because runners were still coming in and blocking the road."
Despite the occasional hiccups, the impact of the Turkey Trot extends far beyond race day. Each year, the proceeds help provide a temporary financial bridge for families in crisis, allowing them to focus on their health rather than the stress of mounting unpaid bills. "We connected with Vickie’s Angel Foundation about our third or fourth year in. My husband Brad knew Mickey from the Big 33. We knew that raising money for the American Cancer Association was important, but with Mickey, we were able to keep the money local and actually see how and who it helped," Dare explained.
The success of the SMT Turkey Trot is a testament to the generosity of sponsors, volunteers, and participants. "We are very happy that we are able to help Mickey on his mission to help as many families as he can while keeping the funds local. Mickey is an integral part of our race as well. He secures all the permits needed and approval from the Borough. He helps make and transport all the coffee and hot chocolate needed for race morning. And he's out on the course race morning at the VAF building so that the runners see that their money stays local, helping local people."
As the event celebrates 20 years, its legacy of giving remains stronger than ever, uniting the community in a shared mission of hope, resilience, and unwavering support for local families. Together, we are a Beacon of Hope!