The Turkey Trot, an annual event organized by ASB, is combining with the Relay for Life club for a walkathon on Nov. 26 during lunch in efforts to increase interest and participation.

For the past few years, the school has held so-called Movember events that sought to get students lowering stress their exercise, games and movement. In its place this year is  two-day celebration that ASB has planned.

“We do too much around here,” assistant principal Matt Torrens said. “November before was crazy busy with different activities, so we are trying to consolidate into those two days.”

This year, the November festivities are being condensed into the Monday and Tuesday during the week of Thanksgiving Break to include the Turkey Trot, a raffle and food trucks.

Turkey Trot is a 35-minute jog-a-thon during lunch on Tuesday, where students, staff and parents alike are invited to walk around the track. Each lap walked is tracked, and once a certain threshold is reached, prizes — including free pizza — will be distributed. 

The ASB has partnered with Relay for Life, an organization that raises money for cancer research, to organize the event in order to increase student participation for both activities. This year will be the third consecutive year that ASB has hosted Relay for Life.

The Turkey Trot originally stems from the administration’s goal to help students be more active. Three years ago, in order to encourage student participation, the school reached out to teachers to help them in the effort.

“Each department had a different activity throughout the month of November, and on the week of Thanksgiving break, we had this walk around the track,” Torrens said. 

Aside from the Turkey Trot, ASB is also planning many more festivities to go along with Thanksgiving. The Monday of break week will include activities during lunch and games set up in the quad, and there will be closed campus for both days during lunch. Tuesday will feature the Turkey Trot along with a raffle, and two to three food trucks will also be coming in for lunch that day.

Officer of the Relay for Life Club Aliza Zaman speculates at the new changes and is optimistic of its success.

“We want to raise awareness and have as many people as possible, because we will also have raffles and everything,” Zaman said. “I just hope everybody can come out and support us.”