Runners burn some calories before Thanksgiving meal at Drumstick Dash

WEST ALLIS -- About 2,600 people, and a few turkeys, participated in the First Annual Drumstick Dash 5K at State Fair Park on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22nd.

A portion of the proceeds and all of the food donations brought in by runners were given to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

"This year alone, we've raised over $5,300 and we plan on exceeding that goal of over 50,000 meals for the hungry in Wisconsin which is fantastic," Anna Ryan with Vision Event Management said.

These donations are critical as Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has seen a 33% increase in distribution of food for needy families in just the last two years.

"We serve 330,000 people, 105,000 of whom are kids, so this means a great deal to us and to those families," Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin President Bonnie Bellehumeur said.

Runners and spectators had plenty of fun at the Drumstick Dash as many of them dressed up as their favorite Thanksgiving bird.

"It definitely gets people in the Thanksgiving spirit. I don`t know how you look at someone in one of these turkey hats and not laugh or smile," Ryan said.

"Getting the hats and getting the fabric -- and yesterday that sewing machine was pumping and we got our shorts done and here we are today," runner Sandy Herrmann said.

Lending a hand while sharing laughs with family and friends made for the perfect Thanksgiving morning.