By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMBGrab your running shoes and limber up … the Annual Los Alamos CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot is coming up soon!
Sunday, Nov. 24, walkers and runners will gather at 1 p.m. in the Los Alamos Middle School cafeteria to register for the event and the drawing, turn in their sponsor donations, grab a t-shirt, and warm up. By 2 p.m., they will be lined up in front of the school, waiting for the starting gun.
The annual route remains the same, providing both shorter and longer options. The longer 2.57 mile route goes from the middle school, down San Ildefonso Road, through the stables, back to the road, passes the Posse Lodge and North Mesa Park, then heads back up into the middle school parking lot. The shorter route bypasses the stables.
Runners and walkers will be timed, and the fastest will be announced.
Returning to the cafeteria, runners and walkers will be greeted with refreshments and a drawing for turkeys and pies. So plan to stick around, cool off, replenish your energy, and hope for a turkey. While you wait, walk around and read the posters that introduce people around the world who have been helped by folks like us raising funds.
CROP has been holding hunger walks for 50 years. In 2018 alone, more than 800 hunger walks were held, with 87,000 people participating and more than $8.3 million raised by these walks.
Participants in the Los Alamos Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot may want to drum up support to “help stop hunger” by registering online at https://www.crophungerwalk.org/losalamosnm/ then asking their Facebook or Twitter friends to donate. If you would rather donate but not walk, go to the same website and find someone to support. You can give online or give directly to a walker or runner with a check (made out to CWS/CROP) or with cash. All donations are turned in at the event.
Proceeds from this annual walk go to fight hunger domestically and throughout the world. At least 25 percent will stay in our community to support our local foodbank, LA Cares. The balance will go to CROP or to the organization the participant designates.
Local businesses that have donated to this cause will have their company logo printed on the back of this year’s t-shirt.
Can you bring your dog? Yes, but not into the cafeteria. Dogs on the walk must be on leash and well-behaved. (Aggressive dogs will find all the commotion of the people and other dogs on the walk just too much to tolerate.) Please bring bags to pick up after your pet.
So, what are you waiting for? Put the Los Alamos CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot on your November calendar! Get your walking or running team organized. Get registered online and ask your friends to donate. We will see you on the 24th!
