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A Run for Hope and a Cure

The holiday season is often a time for reflection, family, and gratitude. For many, the traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Trot is a fun and healthy way to kick off the festivities.

The Emily Whitehead Foundation Turkey Trot represents much more – it’s an opportunity to raise awareness and funding to support patients and caregivers affected by childhood diseases, and to advocate for all patients who can be treated with advanced therapies.

This year marks the Foundation’s third annual Turkey Trot, an event that has become a beloved tradition in our local Philipsburg community, drawing hundreds of participants, volunteers and donors united by our common cause. What started as small gathering has grown into an annual community-wide celebration of hope, determination and FUN!

On Nov. 28, 2024, we welcomed 170 registered trotters from five states and 27 zip codes to Philipsburg, who embraced cold temperatures and snowfall as they trotted through the woods and beyond during the event at Cold Stream Dam and Recreation Park. Participants included runners, walkers, and a few dogs as well. The Philipsburg-Osceola cross country, wrestling and football teams came out to support the Foundation, with each team bringing at least a dozen members. Participants in two states even joined the race virtually! Some people even showed up in holiday costumes.

Along the route, multiple signs displayed quotes from families that spoke to their gratitude for the Foundation and CAR T-cell treatment. The signs served as inspiration to the runners and walkers to finish the race with as much motivation as possible, and to remind them of who they are helping through Emily Whitehead Foundation events like the Turkey Trot.

For younger trotters who made their way over the river and through the woods, they were on the look-out for small turkeys hidden throughout the course. Any young trotter who returned a turkey received a “turkey treat” – a special prize gifted by our local sponsors.

After crossing the finish line, every trotter celebrated their success by enjoying a slice of pie donated by the American Diner.

There were many special guests in attendance, including Philipsburg cancer warrior CJ Coudriet and his family. CJ recently celebrated clear scans from his treatment and was able to ring the bell, symbolizing the completion of his treatment! They cheered on all trotters, and CJ’s family trotted the race as well, serving as an inspirational reminder of why we continue this tradition. CJ and his family even made special Emily Whitehead Foundation Turkey Trot t-shirts for his crew who ran.

Thanks to our trotters, sponsors, and volunteers, we raised $6,600 to support local families affected by cancer!

Since our first Turkey Trot in 2022, we have raised about $12,000, and we are looking forward to setting and exceeding even higher fundraising goals in the coming years.

We are very appreciative of our generous sponsors for making this event possible. With the support of DiamondBack Covers and CNB Bank, each trotter received a free Turkey Trot t-shirt. We extend a special thanks to CNB Bank as well for the finish-line arch, cold-weather apparel, and for their team’s help with registration and on the course.

Thank you to these additional local and corporate sponsors for their donations, time, and support to our Foundation through Turkey Treats, apparel, media, route maintenance, food, and more!

  • Advance Auto
  • American Diner
  • AutoZone
  • Board and Brush State College
  • Bonnie's Greenhouse
  • Box 125, LLC
  • Brown Dog Catering
  • CJ's Crew- Fighting Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • CNB Bank
  • Design Hair Studio
  • DiamondBack Covers
  • Domino's Pizza - Philipsburg
  • Graham's Up In Smoke BBQ
  • HiWay Pizza
  • Joey's Pizza
  • Keith Folmar State Farm
  • Kephart's Ace Hardware
  • Mandy Fish
  • Michael Tocimak Trees
  • Mo Valley YMCA
  • Philipsburg Boro Crew
  • Philipsburg True Value
  • Poppy's Cafe
  • Rapid Transit Sports
  • Ricotta Jewelers
  • Rockin' V Signs, Apparel & Engraving
  • Sam's Club
  • Sarina's Pizza
  • Sissy's Sassy Apples
  • Tammy Schnarrs
  • Thieves Market
  • Tracy's Tanning
  • Two Guys and a Camera
  • UMI Performance
  • Weis Markets

View full race image gallery!