Every Thanksgiving weekend, Project Purple invites supporters from around the country to join its Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Virtual Turkey Trot, a run or walk, typically a 5k, you can do from anywhere: neighborhood streets or parks, local races, or even on your treadmill. This event empowers individuals and teams to raise funds and awareness during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month for the disease, while also honoring loved ones, supporting research initiatives, and contributing to a shared mission.
Interested in joining? Learn more and register here.
2024 Was Unforgettable: Impact in Numbers and Stories
We are proud to say the 2024 Turkey Trot was the largest we have ever had in stats and projected impact. More than 700 participants came together and raised nearly $100,000 through registration fees and individual fundraisers—more than double the turnout from the two years prior. These milestones reflect more than growth; they reflect hearts and communities coming together.
Beyond the numbers, what made the 2024 event truly special were the many individual stories that showed the event’s heart and soul. Across the Facebook group, participants shared photos of their journeys, from massive groups walking together to individuals going solo.
Mary Timm of Tok, Alaska, went above and beyond, walking over 45 miles solo across interior Alaska during the month of November to support her son, Jeb, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Mary’s walk far exceeded the typical Turkey Trot distance, facing below-freezing temperatures, snow, and remote wilderness. Her extraordinary dedication became a powerful symbol of endurance and love, inspiring the community and reminding us that the Turkey Trot is about heart and spirit, no matter the miles.
In California, Stephanie Jenkins was supported by over 25 friends and family who hiked 5.5 miles together on a gorgeous fall day, while other loved ones from Tahoe, Utah, Texas, and Pittsburgh also joined in from afar.
Team Chérie, led by Katherine Guevara, organized a mini triathlon with friends and family either running a 5k, swimming a mile, or biking a 10k for pancreatic cancer. Chérie herself put in miles aboard a boat, chemo pump still in place, demonstrating incredible courage and what the Turkey Trot is all about.
Henry Leon of Florida, a pancreatic cancer survivor, participated in the Trot post-Whipple surgery, embodying the spirit of strength and hope.
Let’s Make 2025 Even More Impactful
The stories and numbers from 2024 prove the Turkey Trot is more than an event. It’s a movement that builds awareness, fosters community, and spreads hope. As we look toward the 2025 Turkey Trot, the goal is clear: build on the momentum of 2024 and make the event even bigger and stronger.
If you participated last year, thank you. Your efforts shaped the event’s impact. And, if those community stories and posts inspired you, carry that fire forward.
We want to see even more neighborhoods and towns turn purple on Thanksgiving weekend. We want more stories, yours included, to be shared and amplified. We want to welcome everyone, from first-timers to seasoned runners, from families to individuals, all united by the same cause.
This year, this race will continue to be a flexible, virtual event that allows participants to run or walk wherever they feel safest and most comfortable. Whether you prefer an early morning solo walk or a large group gathering with family and friends, your participation makes a difference.
If you haven’t joined yet, now’s your chance. Lace up and make this event for Thanksgiving and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month a meaningful tradition!
How to Join the Movement
Stay connected through the Turkey Trot Facebook group, where updates, stories, tips, and encouragement flow freely.
Details on registration, fundraising, and event day will be shared as November nears. We provide graphics, messaging ideas, and prizes for top fundraisers to support your efforts.
On Turkey Trot weekend, capture your moments and share them by tagging Project Purple. Including your fundraising link helps amplify awareness and support.
Every dollar raised goes to pancreatic cancer initiatives, whether it be providing aid to patients and caregivers, funding vital research, or simply bringing attention to the disease.
So, mark your calendar. Rally your community. Run or walk with purpose.
Together, we’re stronger. Together, we move the mission forward.
Join Project Purple’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Turkey Trot by registering here or connecting with our community on Facebook.
