On Thanksgiving morning each year, over 2,000 citizens come together on the Noblesville town square. Some are there to run or walk, some just want to contribute, but others are there to raise awareness for leukemia. Some just participate because their mom signed them up. Others, however, run to keep Michael Treinen’s name alive.
Shortly after his high school graduation in 2007, Former NHS student Michael Treinen passed away at the age of 19 after a battle with leukemia. His parents, Kelly and Tom Treinen, started the Turkey Trot around their neighborhood in 2008 to remember their son and raise funds. It has since grown to around 2,500 people, and quickly spread throughout the Noblesville community. The event is managed by people like Dave Johnson, a Turkey Trot’s board member, who are all focused on bringing the community together.
“We are touching a lot of families and bringing a lot of joy and remembrance to the families like Michael’s. We want to continue to spread that feeling of love, hope, and remembrance and bring families together on thanksgiving morning,” Johnson said.
Senior Riley Flynn has been running since the sixth grade, She participated in the Turkey Trot for three years. She has experienced the sense of community that the event has brought to Hamilton County and is already signed up to run it again this year.
“It’s good when people come together for a common cause. Running is hard for anyone, and everyone is putting themselves through this challenge for the [same] cause, and I think that’s a great thing people are doing,” Riley said.
Riley even recruited her brother, freshman Gavin Flynn, to run the Turkey Trot 2 years ago. He has felt that same unity that the event has given to the community and he thinks it’s a great bonding experience for him and his fellow cross country teammates.
“For the team I think it’s really brought us together. You connect with people while running, and we all have that in common,” Gavin said.
That connection is exactly what Kelly and Tom Treinen want for this event. Even though they now live in Colorado, they still play a large part in the Turkey Trot, returning to Noblesville to run it each year.
“Tom and I are still very involved in the event. Our daughters come when they can. Our youngest daughter, Michele, has attended all 17 Turkey Trots,” Kelly said.
The Treinen Foundation has donated most of the proceeds to Riley Children’s Hospital, as well as provided scholarships for Noblesville athletes. They say no matter the number of people, the place, or the obstacles, their goal is to make a difference.
“Our goal is always to support the needs of cancer families,” Kelly said. “We hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families.”
