Garden City Gearing Up For 35th Annual Turkey Trot

A Thanksgiving tradition in Garden City for the past 35 years, this year's Turkey Trot, Challenge Run and Fun Run will kick off at St. Paul's Thursday.

More than 5,000 people participated in the race in 2011.

The Garden City Police Department advises residents that street closures will begin at 8 a.m. and will continue to approximately noon.

"For the safety of the race participants, as well as the spectators, all streets within the race route will be closed to vehicular traffic," according to a department release. "Accordingly, residents in the affected areas are asked to make prior arrangements as they will not be able to drive their vehicles to and from their homes during the race events. To assist residents, the police department has provided a map that illustrates the race route."

The route of the 5-mile race is as follows: Stewart Avenue in front of St. Paul’s east to Cherry Valley Avenue continuing south on Rockaway Avenue, west onto First Street onto Cambridge Avenue, north on Whitehall Boulevard, continuing east onto South Avenue to Cherry Valley Avenue back to Stewart Avenue, then west onto Stewart Avenue past St. Paul’s and north on Hampton Road - the final lap will be continuing south on Rockaway to the finishing line at St. Paul’s.

Mayor Don Brudie asked Kevin Ocker to personally scour the race route to make sure there aren't any hanging limbs or other potential dangers to race participants.

Since its inception, Merrill Lynch has been a key sponsor and partner to the Garden City Turkey Trot.

"It is a great organization that supports so many in our community and we look forward to the race every year," Dominick Tomeo, a complex director at Merrill Lynch, told Patch.

Tom Sullivan, managing director and wealth management advisor at the Merrill Lynch Garden City office, added, "I am so proud to have been able to help get the Merrill Lynch Garden City office involved in this great fundraising effort. It is a great tradition for so many and the entire community."

Race director Ken Aneser said Merrill Lynch’s support has been instrumental in the success of the race over the years since the very beginning. "It really is an amazing race," he said. "Our runners already donated over $12,000 to our race beneficiaries when asked if they would like to donate a few extra dollars when they signed up online. More than $5,000 of that was donated directly to the American Red Cross and our runners will be donating schools supplies and other items for the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The Garden City Turkey Trot is a true win/win proposition for all involved.”

Beneficiaries of this year's race are the American Red Cross, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

(Extremely limited late race day registration is available on Thursday morning between 8-9:15 a.m.)

On race day beginning at 8 a.m. the Race Committee will collect items for Hurricane Sandy victims at the St. Paul's Field House, the race site. Items, including flashlights, tooth brushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, gloves, batteries, garbage bags and more, will be delivered to Long Beach and the Rockaways.