Rotary Club Turkey Trot runs to benefit Safe Harbor
Running races for charity always puts a smile on people’s face. The Millersburg Rotary Club will host its 5k and 10k Turkey Trot races on Saturday, Nov. 18 on the Holmes County Trail to benefit Safe Harbor and Rotary International’s Polio Plus program.
The Millersburg Rotary Club will host its 5k and 10k Turkey Trot races on Saturday, Nov. 18 on the Holmes County Trail to benefit Safe Harbor and Rotary International’s Polio Plus program.
To participate in the race, register at www.midohiorm.com or pick up a registration form at the Holmes County Trail Depot or the Holmes County Library. Register by Nov. 10 to guarantee a T-shirt — $30 for the 5k and $45 for the 10k. Race-day registration will increase by $5.
Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. on race day, with the 5k and 10k kicking off at 9:30 a.m. Both races will depart and return to the Hipp Station Depot, 62 N. Grant St., Millersburg, on the Holmes County Trail. Prizes will be awarded for male and female overall finishers and 40-plus male and female first-place finishers.
Rotary brings together leaders who step up to take on the toughest challenges, locally and globally. The Millersburg Rotary Club is no exception. All proceeds from this event will support two projects.
Safe Harbor is a faith-based, long-term residential and therapeutic community for girls age 14-19 who have been recovered from sex traffickers. Safe Harbor will provide trauma-informed, holistic, onsite care that includes medical and physical care provided by Springvale Health Centers. Building on 30 acres of donated land in Holmes County, phase one of construction will consist of three cottages (four girls in each cottage), an administrative building, a chapel and a school.
The projected opening is January 2024. Phase two will consist of three additional cottages, an equine facility and a creative arts building. There are currently less than 1,000 beds for survivors of sex trafficking in the country. At 24 beds Safe Harbor will be the largest facility of its kind in the Eastern United States.
Rotary International has been the leader in working to eradicate polio around the world. Since 1985 when Rotary made eradicating polio a top priority, Rotary has spent $2.1 billion, and polio has been 99.9% eliminated, only remaining endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Experts say if we choose to control polio rather than eradicate it, more than 10 million children under the age of 5 could be paralyzed by the disease in the next 40 years.
Running benefits the mind and body. By participating in this race, you’ll also help ensure millions around the world never lose their ability to run due to polio. Locally, you’ll help victims of sex trafficking.