5th Annual Thanksgiving “Unofficial” Turkey Trot 5K for Marine Corps Toys for Tots
It’s time for the fifth annual Turkey Trot 5K for Marine Corps Toys for Tots.
This year’s “unofficial” event will be on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 7 a.m. at the Toho Marina on Kissimmee’s Lakefront, which means coming out before the Thanksgiving Day meal goes in the oven. The first 50 participants who donate an unwrapped toy will receive a free Turkey Trot tee shirt.
The 5k event began in 2021 after Cissy Dellofano became a “Marine mom” when both her son and daughter joined the U.S. Marine Corps. With a background as a fitness coach and wanting to do something in support of the Marines, she hit upon the idea of holding the race as an avenue for people to support the Marines’ Toys for Tots program.
Toys for Tots is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity that was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991, with the mission to provide toys, books, and emotional support to disadvantaged children. Last year, the Orange, Osceola, & Seminole County Toys for Tots chapter distributed 52,166 toys and supported 87,679 children in the three-county area. “This year I managed to get a (Toys for Tots) drop-off box placed at Fit2Run at Disney Springs,” said Dellofano. Dellofano is a certified fitness coach, is working on a yoga certification, and conducts outdoor fitness classes twice a week in the Kissimmee area. In addition to the Turkey Trot, people interested in donating toys can contact her via her Facebook page or Instagram at #coachcissydellofano. Due to the charitable nature of the event, no medals or other prizes are awarded for completing the race.
For more information on the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, see https://bit.ly/4idHQYj.
