Inaugural Thanksgiving Gabby Gobble 5K set for Nov. 27
The first Gabby Gobble 5K will be held Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 27, at Irish Eyes Pub, 213 Anglers Road in Lewes. Proceeds from the race will go to the Get Well Gabby Foundation.
The Get Well Gabby Foundation was started in honor and memory of Gabriella Vogel, who was a valiant fighter of childhood cancer, but passed away at the age of 5. Gabby’s family and the foundation have pledged $125,000 to the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children to build and furnish a playroom in the new oncology department in Wilmington. They have also collected 14,000 new books and donated them to the Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Hershey Medical Center.
The foundation provides an opportunity to assist kids and their families, help them get well, and put smiles on the faces of both the kids with cancer and their entire family. Gabby’s family resides in the Bethany Beach area. To learn more go to www.getwellgabby.org.
Races2Run, with help from Tom and Charlene Jones of Irish Eyes in Lewes, Coastal Kids Pediatric Dentistry, Saketumi Sushi Bar, and Gabby’s parents, Carolyn and John Vogel, make this event possible. The course is USATF certified with chip timing. Entrants receive long-sleeved T-shirts, and awards go to the top three male and female finishers in 10-year age categories 9 and under to 70 and over and to top fundraisers. The post-race party includes beer for participants over 21.
Race participants are encouraged to wear festive costumes and enjoy Turkey Day. There will be a special prize of an Irish Eyes cup and happy hour for the best-dressed team, and also awards for the top fundraiser and fastest team of at least five members.
Wayne and Barb Kursh, race directors, invite everyone in the area to come to Irish Eyes Thanksgiving morning to give personal thanks and help raise money for the Get Well Gabby Foundation. Parking is available at Irish Eyes and behind the Dairy Queen at the end of Savannah Road.
Registration is available online at www.races2run.com for $25 until noon, Monday, Nov. 24, or at the Rehoboth Beach Running Company. Packet pickup and late registration for $30 is at Irish Eyes in Lewes from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26. Registration is also on day of event. Additional donations will be accepted at the race or online at www.getwellgabby.org. Get Well Gabby is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Katie Vogel, Gabby’s sister, says it best, “Without children, there would never be grown-ups. Please help my family help other families like ours.”
