Murphys, CA – More than 1,000 people will spend Thanksgiving morning getting some exercise and giving back to their community at the 11th Annual Klassen Klassic Turkey Trot. The event is held at Murphys Park, behind Main Street in downtown Murphys, CA. Brian Klassen and his daughters, Sally and Riley, put on this unofficial, family-oriented walk/run, along with a handful of volunteers. Since 2007 the event has collected more than fifteen tons of food for local food banks and raised $23,000 for local families in need. This year’s recipients are the Murphys Food Bank and the Zach Peterson Memorial Fund. Zach was a 16 year-old Bret Harte High student who died unexpectedly of a blood clot in September (photo below). His mother, Jolee Peterson, commented, “I am very honored that you have chosen Zach’s Memorial Fund this year. “

What you need to know

· 8:00 am – entry table opens, registration only for those who want to be timed (unofficially)

· 8:00 am – t-shirts sales begin, $25 for one or $40 for two (limited sizes and quantities)

· 8:45 am – group warm-up

· 9:00 am – race begins, runners, walkers, strollers, dogs welcome

Race details

· 2.5 miles or 5 miles, beginning and ending at Murphys Park

· Token awards given out to

· First place under 12 girl in 2.5 and 5 mile

· First place under 12 boy in 2.5 and 5 mile

· First place woman 2.5 and 5 mile

· First place man 2.5 and 5 mile

As seen in the Stockton Record
By Almendra Carpizo
Record Staff Writer

Posted Nov 21, 2015 at 5:30 Pm
MURPHYS — Nine years ago, Brian Klassen and about a dozen friends and family members decided to go for a morning run before their Thanksgiving feast.

That run, now known as the Klassen Klassic Annual Turkey Trot, has since evolved into a race that attracts hundreds of participants and has raised thousands of dollars for people in need.

Brian Klassen, who along with his daughters created the annual event, said the family run was taken to the next level by his daughter, Sally Klassen, who in 2007 decided to focus her senior project on organizing a run.

The race drew 200 runners that year, he said. But every year since, the Turkey Trot has grown, last year 800 people particpated.

Sally, who is now 23, also started asking for canned food or non-perishable food items, which are donated to the food pantry at the Murphys Senior Center, in lieu of an entry fee. And Klassen said that remains the participation cost.

Last year, the Klassen Klassic Annual Turkey Trot collected enough food to last 10 weeks, Klassen said.

The event has also collected thousands of dollars that have been donated to local families; each year they identify a family in need and donate the proceeds from a commemorative T-shirt sale. Klassen and his daughters continue to organize and plan the event because of their desire to give back to the community, in which the family has lived in for 20 years, Klassen said. It reinforces the sense of community in Murphys.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s very rewarding and fulfilling. It makes me happy to do this.”

ZACH PETERSEN 2001 – 2017