Gurnee, IL – November 20, 2009 - The Gurnee Police and Fire departments are announcing the 16th Annual Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot, to be held on Thanksgiving morning, November 26th at 8:00 A.M. The 5k fun run/walk starts in the 4600 block of Old Grand Avenue and ends in front of Gurnee Fire Station #1 on Old Grand Ave. Refreshments are provided after the fun run in the Gurnee Community Church hall.

In the Fall of 1994, Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones organized a 5K run to be held on Thanksgiving morning. The event was called the Turkey Trot and runners were asked to make a $10.00 donation to the Gurnee Community Church to help fund their holiday dinner for the needy and Great Lakes military personnel. The event was sponsored by the Gurnee Police Department. About a dozen runners participated in that first event. The Turkey Trot continued each year and participation increased.

Jon Callaghan was a student at O’Plaine School in Gurnee, who passed away in 1997 after a courageous battle with neuroblastoma cancer. The event was then renamed the Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot and his parents, Mike and Kim Callaghan, became involved with the annual event. Per the Callaghan family, the funds raised have been used to help Make-a-Wish Foundation, Children’s Memorial Hospital Cancer Research, School District 56 Program for Learning Disabled, and many others.

Each year part of the proceeds are also donated to the Gurnee Community Church. Each year the Gurnee Community Church Youth Work Camp participants raise funds to meet their goal of helping those less fortunate by building housing. Any donations are appreciated and sponsorship is welcome. Participation in the walk/run is encouraged.

Please make checks payable to the Gurnee Turkey Trot and mail to Fifth Third Bank, 7500 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, Illinois 60031, attention Brian Moy. Anyone wishing to participate may pre-register for $20.00 or you may register for $25.00 on race day at Gurnee Fire Station #1, 4580 Old Grand Avenue. Long sleeve T-shirts will be available to the first 350 paid participants to check in on race day. Check in starts at 7:00 A.M.

If you have any questions, please contact Commander Jim Caldwell, 847.599.7090, or CSO Chris Saffell at the Gurnee Police Department 847.599.7036, or Battalion Chief Barry Henby at the Gurnee Fire Department, 847.599.6600.

For more info and downloads go to www.gurneeturkeytrot.org.

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