Cerritos College will be having the 15th annual Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 11.

“We had another record-breaking number of participants last year with over 704 people,” Ni Bueno, chair of the Health Education Department and athletic coordinator, said.

She also mentioned that she has coordinated this event for years.

A total of $190.85 was collected from canned food donations at last year’s Turkey Trot.

People who enroll in the Turkey Trot donate at least one canned food item and $1 for additional raffle tickets.

Ni Bueno said, “The main reason we do this is to collect food baskets for the city of Norwalk. So it’s really a food drive. We collect cans and put together food baskets for people from what we donate for Thanksgiving.”

The raffle begins at 11:45 a.m. for all race participants who need not be present to win.

Participants who pre-register receive an extra raffle ticket. Extra raffle tickets should be returned to the HPEDA Division office before Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Any extra tickets and raffle tickets will be issued on race day.

Participants will have to run or walk 1.5 miles around the Cerritos campus.

“It’s not only to benefit people who are in the city of Norwalk, but it also provides student opportunity to volunteer. Also, students can decide to volunteer to help out with the registration, and children from the Child Development Center come over to participate in the event. We make an obstacle course for that and they have fun playing hula hoop, jump rope, hopscotch. They will have fun doing that,” Bueno said.

Nutrition major Selene Aleman said, “I’m taking a nutrition class. If I participant in this event, I will get a credit. It’s good to do it.”

Manufacturing and engineering major Pablo Rodriguez said, “We have an opportunity to do charity and that kind of event is good for me.”

One award each will be given to female, male, and staff/ faculty participants.

The Turkey Trot even will take place in the Falcon Square on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 11:05 a.m.

The Turkey Trot is sponsored by the Health, Physical Education, Dance and Athletics Division.