Over 900 runners and walkers made their way through the streets of Palmerton on Thursday morning during the 2023 Bo Tkach Turkey Trot.

The event, held annually, aims to raise funds for mental health counseling, scholarships, and educational presentations focusing on suicide prevention, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.

The top male finisher, Connor Hibbel, a Palmerton resident, completed the race with a time of 17:06. Hibbel, who also clinched victory in the Colonial League and District XI cross-country championships during the high school season, shared his dedication to the cause.

“I was already trained from the cross country season so it was always going to be a good idea to do a 5K while I’m on break,” Hibbel said. “This is local and it supports a great cause so it was a good opportunity.”

Thursday marked Cera Gaston’s eighth time finishing the Turkey Trot as the top female. Finishing with a time of 18:47, Gaston said the event resonates with her as a middle school health and physical education teacher.

“I teach my students about how to take care of themselves when feeling stressed and anxious,” she said. “We all go through things, and I want to make sure everyone knows they’re not alone.”

A former undergrad at Messiah, now a graduate student at Alvernia, Gaston said the Turkey Trot fit well into her preparation for the upcoming track season.

“My time here was a little bit slower this year because I was really hyped up coming off of qualifying for nationals in cross country for Alvernia last year,” Gaston said. “I’m out of cross country eligibility, but I’m really looking forward to track.”