RACE START TIMES!!!
1 MILE at 8am and 5K at 8:30am SHARP
13th Annual Marcia Walters Memorial Thanksgiving Trot
Coach Derek Vierling
This year’s Thanksgiving Trot race will benefit Derek Vierling and his family. Derek and his wife Kellye are long-time residents of Aledo and have a grown son, Reed. Derek is known to many in the community as “Coach Vierling” or "Coach V." He has been an educator in Aledo for over 24 years, was a pioneer in starting the Aledo soccer program back in 2002, is currently the Head Soccer Coach and an Assistant Football Coach. He has impacted many lives through his dedication to the Aledo High School athletic programs. Derek has been battling an incurable and rare disease – Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (AHUS) since 2023. He was also diagnosed with Renal Failure and Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia (CLL) in the past 2 years. His diagnoses came shortly after Kellye was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer in 2022 & 2023, which required hospitalizations, surgeries, and on-going treatments. With this family enduring countless health challenges over the past few years, there has been an unimaginable financial strain. Proceeds will go toward helping the Vierlings and ease the burden of medical bills.
Please REGISTER by November 1, 2024. We cannot guarantee you a t-shirt if received after this deadline. Late registration will begin on November 2, 2024 and run until 8:30am on Thanksgiving Morning.
The Aledo Thanksgiving Trot began with an idea that was shared between a mother and a son - wouldn't it be nice to have our own Fort Worth Turkey Trot in Aledo and let this race benefit a need in our own community. Our goal each year is to provide financial support to a member of our community who needs assistance in meeting their needs.
“The blessing is ours - we’re blessed to live in a great community that supports good causes!!”
“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the measure of our Thanksgiving.”