The Massapequa Turkey Trot 5K, first ran in 2010 to raise awareness for blood cancer, once again continued its mission of raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Together with their good friend James Joseph, of the Law Offices of James P. Joseph &. Associates, Tom Foley and Brian Griffin, of Foley Griffin, felt 2022 was the right year to organize the race, after a two-year break because of Covid-19. This year’s race benefited from a crisp, sunny and dry weather day, which were ideal conditions to raise over $15,000 with the 5K and kids race, featuring runners aged 5 to 85.
In 2010, after James Joseph successfully won his battle over blood cancer, he was approached by friends Tom Foley and Brian Griffin, to join them in bringing a Turkey Trot to Massapequa on Thanksgiving morning. Co-event organizer, Tom Foley said, “I was already looking to run a Turkey Trot in the area and after Brian and I approached James, the three of us felt we should partner to create the Massapequa Turkey Trot 5K”. They determined to use the race to raise money for cancer research and create awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since the beginning of the event in 2011, Foley Griffin and James P. Joseph & Associates have raised over $250K in funding for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Co-event organizer, Brian Griffin said, “It’s so great bringing the Turkey Trot back to Thanksgiving morning. Since Tom, James and I began the event, the Turkey Trot has really become a staple of the Massapequa community and a wonderful way to kick-off the holiday season. Plus, if you asked today’s participants, I think most would tell you the race is a great way to start of Thanksgiving and build up and earn an appetite.
The community really came out to support the return of the Massapequa Turkey Trot 5K. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino was on hand to kick off the day’s ceremonies, members of the West Babylon High School Marching Band entertained runners before they left John Jay Burns Park to hit the rest of the course in the adjacent Massapequa neighborhood. The kid’s half-mile fun run offered the perfect mix of a challenging course with an opportunity for parents to run with some of the younger participants. The race timing was once again provided by Elite Feats and Massapequa High School Track and Field were on-hand to provide much needed volunteer services. Awards were given out to the top three kid finishers of the fun run as well as overall 5K winners and the top three finishers of all the different age divisions, 14 and under through over 80, also received medals.
Foley Griffin, LLC and Joseph Law Group, P.C look forward to bringing the 12th Massapequa Turkey Trot to Thanksgiving morning in 2023. It’s such a great event for the community and it means so much to Tom, Brian and Joseph to be able to give back to the community and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.