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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 21 www.FredericksburgParent.NET 3 For many families in our community, Turkey Trot has become just as much a Thanksgiving tradi on as the meal itself. We see families running together, parents with children, friends mee ng up year a er year, compe ve runners chasing a new me and walkers enjoying the morning together. And FredParent readers should remember to use promo code FREDPARENT2026 for $7 off each registra on. As the year comes to a close, how can families help support the YMCA and its programs? The YMCA is a nonprofit organiza on, and fundraising is an incredibly important part of our ability to serve the community. We are con nu- ally working to raise the resources needed to keep important pro- grams alive, accessible and available to the people who need them. On Giving Tuesday, December 1, the Tuesday a er Thanksgiving, we will once again ask our community to come together and support the Y. This year, we will be raising funds with a special emphasis on youth development, community health and special needs programming. These are programs that can make a tremendous di!erence in someone's life but cannot exist without community support. They create opportunities for children to learn and grow, provide resources for individuals facing health challenges, o!er inclusive programming for people with di!erent abilities and help ensure that finances are not the reason someone cannot participate. Every gi , no ma er the size, helps us con nue figh ng for programs that ma er to our community. What would you want families to remember about the YMCA heading into the final months of the year? The YMCA is so much more than a place to work out. We want to be a resource for families throughout every stage and every season of life. Maybe that means having 24/7 access so a busy parent can finally fit in a workout. Maybe it is bringing your children to Creepy Crawly, picking up a paddle for an indoor game of pickleball, watching your li le one run their first Tot Trot, star ng Thanksgiving morning together at the Turkey Trot or making a year-end gi that helps another child or family experience a YMCA program. However you choose to be involved, you are part of something bigger. When our community par cipates, volunteers, gives and shows up for one another, we are able to con nue strengthening the community we all call home. For more info, visit family-ymca.org for a fun way to stay ac ve to more compe ve players looking for court me, leagues, clinics and opportuni es to improve their game, our indoor courts help keep our com- munity moving throughout the colder months. Pickleball con nues to grow tremendously in our community, and the YMCA is excited to create more opportuni es for players of different ages and skill levels to get on the court, connect with others and play throughout the year. Thanksgiving is approaching, which means Turkey Trot! What should FredParent families know this year? The Rappahannock Area YMCA Turkey Trot is one of our favorite tradi ons of the en re year! It is an opportunity for families, friends, runners and walkers to come together and kick off Thanksgiving with fitness, fun and community. This year, we are especially excited to have FredParent as the official sponsor of our Tot Trot, giving our li lest runners their own opportuni- ty to be part of the Turkey Trot tradi on. We also have something special exclusively for FredParent families. Use promo code FREDPARENT2026 when registering and receive $7 OFF each registration! Whether you have a li le one ready for their first race, a young runner ready to tackle a mile or your en re family wants to take on the 5K, there is an opportunity to par cipate. Tell us more about the FredParent Tot Trot. When and where does it take place? Our li lest runners get their own special event the evening before Thanksgiving! The FredParent Tot Trot will take place Wednesday, November 25, at 4 PM at James Monroe High School. The Tot Trot is one lap around the track, approximately ΒΌ mile, and we will have several heats to give all of those li le runners a chance to get some of their pre-Thanksgiving energy out! It is a fun, low pressure way to introduce younger children to running and give them the excitement of par cipa ng in their own race and crossing the finish line. We are thrilled to partner with FredParent to make this year's Tot Trot extra special for our youngest par cipants and their families. What happens on Thanksgiving morning? Thanksgiving morning is when the Turkey Trot tradi on really comes alive! On Thursday, November 26, runners and families will gather for our Youth 1 Mile and Turkey Trot 5K. The Youth 1 Mile gives our younger runners an opportunity to take on a bigger challenge, while the 5K welcomes everyone from compe ve runners to walkers and families who simply want to start Thanksgiving morning together.