FILE PHOTO
By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer
(Nov. 22, 2018) There’s still time to sign up for the second annual ThanksKitten Trot and inaugural Trash Trot, offering healthy ways to get active after Thanksgiving dinner indulgences.
The “ThanksKitten Run” will take place at the Ocean Pines South Gate Pond Trail Saturday, Nov. 24, starting at 9 a.m.
ThanksKitten will consist of three laps around the Ocean Pines South Gate Pond, with exercise stations throughout each lap. Exercise stations are optional and participants can complete in one, two or three laps.
Three laps around the pond are about 2.5 miles. Families, children and pets on leashes are welcome.
“I’ve been involved with the Town Cats, a volunteer organization in the area, and trying to find a way for people and families to come out and support that organization, help bring awareness to what they do, and find something fun for that family to do around Thanksgiving in this area,” CrossFit Assateague Event Organizer Sandra Kerstetter said.
Last year, the event raised nearly $1,000 for Town Cats and close to 100 people participated. Kerstetter hopes changing the event date this year will draw even more people.
“We had it on Thanksgiving morning last year and we had a ton of requests with people saying, ‘Oh, I have so much to do that day, I wish I could come, I wish it was a different day,’” Kerstetter said. “So, we thought this year to try it on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend when festivities are over, shopping is over on Friday, and now, after all those bellies are full, we’ll give them something else to do to burn off some calories and have a good time.”
Town Cats, a local nonprofit, is dedicated to enriching the lives of free roaming, feral or abandoned cats in Ocean City and the surrounding communities by limiting population growth, and providing medical care and affordable adoption services.
According to Kerstetter, there has been a lot of interest in this year’s ThanksKitten activities.
“A lot of local businesses have been posting about it and spreading the word,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a great weekend,”
Parking will be available at the Ocean Pines Library on Cathell Road.
Coordinators will be collecting kitten supplies, such as clumping cat litter, Purina One kitten dry food, and Friskies turkey pate canned cat food.
“Our goal is to create a fun, family friendly event that burns some calories Thanksgiving weekend, and hopefully double the amount of money/supplies we raised for Town Cats last year,” Michelle Macia, manager of CrossFit Assateague, said in a press release.
Registration starts at 8 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park and costs $10 per person, or $5 for children 13 and older or with a cat supply donation. Children 12 and under can participate for free.
For more information or a list of needed cat supplies, visit www.crossfitassateague.com, www.facebook.com/crossfitassateague, or call Kerstetter at 443-944-2226 with any questions.
The Surfrider Foundation is introducing a new beach cleanup today known as the Turkey Day Trash Trot. Volunteers will meet at the amusement pier by the inlet parking lot at noon and clear up trash on the beach until 1 p.m.
“We do beach cleanups all the time,” Surfrider Volunteer Coordinator Malcolm Taylor said. “I’m down there with my family anyway, so I’ve always tried to convince them that it’s a good idea to help and basically combine my family activities with Surfrider. We typically go out for a walk anyways, so we might as well put our time to good use.”
Sponsored by Costa Sunglasses, one volunteer will have a chance to win a pair of recycled sunglasses worth about $150, and 10 volunteers will take home a Costa hat.
Currently, dozens of people have shown interest in the event through the Turkey Day Trash Trot Facebook page and Taylor expects even more people to show up.
“It’s supposed to be fun and making the place that we all enjoy a little bit nicer,” Taylor said. “It’s an opportunity for people to come out and do something productive with their time and be out walking with their families, [and to] make people more aware of what we’re trying to do for the Ocean City community.”
Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle, and gloves and buckets if available.
For more information, visit the Turkey Day Trash Trot Facebook page, www.facebook.com/events/260471207946247.