With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time for fat turkeys, backyard football games, and of course, the yearly local Turkey Trot.

The fourth annual Grand Valley Turkey Trot will take place on Nov. 23, hosted by the Grand Valley Running Club.

Like the previous years, all the profits from the race will be donated to Kids Food Basket, an organization that helps fight childhood hunger in West Michigan. The race fee is $22 until the day of the race, when the price rises to $27. There are plenty of raffle prizes, medals for participants, and commemorative pint glasses for awards given to the first three in each age group.

This year, added to the hype of the event will be a band made up of Grand Valley Running Club members, led by member Aaron Moore

“It will be called Running Riot,” Moore said. “A rocking, running band will be performing during the race.”

The Running Club has been preparing for this event for months, gathering sponsors, perfecting the course and prepping for its biggest charity event yet. Over 200 participants have already committed to the race on GVSU’s Allendale campus.

“We are at a 30% participation increase from last year already!” Turkey Trot coordinator Michelle Croad said.

Croad’s goal was to beat last year’s goal of 160 participants, and with the numbers of participants rising daily, she is relieved that all their hard work on the event is paying off.

You can sign up for the Turkey Trot in Kirkhof on Friday, November 22 or online at http://michianatiming.com/registration/.