What's better than running with a turkey leg in your hand? How about running with a turkey leg in your hand for a good cause. The Longwood University women's lacrosse team did just that Tuesday, Nov. 15, on Brock Commons with the Third Annual Turkey Trample. The event began at 4 p.m. outside Willett Hall.
The Turkey Trample is a 2-mile relay race where, instead of passing off a regular baton, participants instead pass off a turkey baton. Teams for the event were composed of four people, with each person having to run two separate quarter-mile legs of the relay. Admission to create a team was $20 and 20 pop can tabs. For each additional 20 tabs, the admission fee decreased by $2. The fee included a T-shirt for the event.
The tabs for the event as well as the proceeds went to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Richmond, Va. The RMHC sells the tabs for scrap metal, using the proceeds to fund their efforts. The efforts provide housing for families that have a child in the hospital for an extended stay for minimal or no costs to families. The cash went to the RMHC wish-list, which is a list of items the RMHC needs each day.
The first and third runners were stationed at a line next to Willett Hall. The second and fourth runners awaited the baton at the Grainger fountain. To complete the entirety of the race, each participant had to run twice. Representatives from various campus organizations included athletics, fraternities, sororities and ROTC members. Women's lacrosse players held up signs for runner with arrows pointing which way to go.
Participants noted feeling everything from their "legs are on fire" to regretting that morning's weightlifting.
The first place prize went to the Banana Nut Muffins; first place girls to the F.P.C. Neck Brace; first place co-ed was the Black-eyed Peas. Best team costume went to the lumberjacks and the best team name was the Old Folks. Prizes to the winning teams included gift cards.
Members of the winning male team, who were also members of the men's soccer team, which won the Atlantic Soccer Conference Championship Sunday, said they had to have another victory this week because one just wasn't enough. The team was made up of Vinnie Llana, Chris Saul, Joel Helmick and Shane Johnson.
Junior Jamie Brentlinger said it was great to see everyone come out and support the RMHC. Brentlinger and Kate Culhane were just two of the juniors that helped organized this year's event.
"I'm very happy with how the event went," said Culhane. "It was a very big variety of people. That's always something good to see."
Can tabs can be dropped off in the lacrosse office in Tabb 215 or by contacting Brentlinger or Interim Lacrosse Head Coach Wendy Stone for a pick-up. Donations are accepted through Thursday, Dec. 1.
