Turkey Trot Planned For Thanksgiving Day In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — There's no better way to prepare for a warm and hearty meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie than to go for a nice long run the morning before.

In Mendham and Chester, residents are invited to take part in the annual West Morris Central High School Memorial Turkey Trot 5k race and walk, slated for Thursday morning.

Runners and walkers can gather at West Morris Central High School behind one of the soccer fields on Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Day – at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine, organizers say.

The Turkey Trot is a community event held to carry on the WMC Memorial Race tradition that began in 2007 in memory of Kyleigh D'Alessio and Tanner Birch. Since then, the race has also honored Stephen Berstler and Paul Heembrock.

All four were West Morris Central student-athletes.

The race proceeds will continue to benefit memorial scholarships in their names, project graduation, Community Night Out, and new recreational initiatives for the township; however, the race will also finance a new Fallen Heroes scholarship.

The course this year begins behind one of the soccer fields and ends on the track that surrounds the football field. 5K runners will complete a full five kilometers by looping around the course twice.

The race, which started in 2007, is often considered a holiday tradition for some members of the community in the West Morris area, officials said.

The 2022 WMC Memorial 5K Turkey Trot saw more than 300 participants from Chester and other surrounding towns.