Sun Shines Brightly on Third Annual Turkey Trot

Bright sunshine, a big turnout and an energetic turkey combined Thursday to push an American Heart association fund-raiser in Croton-on-Hudson over the top in contributions.

Cheryl Slaughter, who organized the Turkey Trot—now in its third running—at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, said the event raised more than $8,000. It topped both last year’s turnout numbers—500—and its $6,800 in donations to the heart fund, she said.

“When I look at the sea of people coming down the hill toward the track,” Slaughter said, “it makes feel very emotional and grateful for such support.”  

Slaughter stages the one-mile fun run each Thanksgiving as a personal expression of gratitude for the successful open-heart surgery her daughter Jessica, then 7, underwent nearly four years ago. Jessica was present Thursday as mom, a.k.a. the turkey, readied the runners (and joggers and walkers) for their four laps around the track.

Even in a stuffed-turkey suit, Slaughter bears no resemblance to a butterball. A personal trainer, she put the crowd through a series of stretches and jumping jacks, a wireless microphone carrying her commands to the farthest points of the sun-splashed track.

“Nothing makes me happier than to see people of all ages exercising and smiling,” she said.

The morning’s only dark cloud came in the form of a red-coated chef. Armed with roasting pan and baster, he sought relentlessly to make a meal of the turkey. So, Slaughter enlisted the help of scores of children, beseeching them to warn her of the chef’s approach. They did that, enthusiastically, and more. Far more, said Barry Presser of White Plains.

The older brother of the turkey, he had unquestionably the best view of what befell the chef. The children beat on him. Presser said he—sorry, make that the chef—had to ward off the young blows with his aluminum foil pan.

All of the children were awarded medals—for finishing their run, not for attacking the chef—and the first 400 of them to register were given Modell’s sport water bottles. “The faces of the kids as they received their medals was priceless,” Slaughter said. “Save the date for next year!”