25K Run, Walk, Trot in Silicon Valley Turkey Trot

A total of 25,000 runners, walkers and of course, trotters - the largest number ever - showed up for the ninth annual Silicon Valley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, as part of an annual fundraising drive to help those in need.

Some even had a bit more fun than usual, taking off at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday in downtown San Jose, by dressing up to honor the fact that Thanksgiving this year falls on the first day of Hannukah.

One runner dressed up as a purple dreidel with a turkey hat and feet before setting off to work up a sweat.

According to the trot website, Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, turned to his wife and said, “Somebody ought to do a race like that here.” Leslee her husband a  look that said, “Maybe that somebody should be us.”

The millions raised are shared among: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, the Housing Trust Silicon Valley, and the Healthier Kids Foundation Santa Clara County.

The first year raised $132,000. Last year, the event raised $1.2 million.

Applied Materials is the main sponsor of the event, run by volunteers from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Central Labor Council, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, and others.

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