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Snow and freezing temperatures did not keep runners away from the annual Seattle Turkey Trot in Ballard.

The money raised at this event goes to the Ballard Food Bank. Last year 1,100 people participated and raised over $19,000 for the Ballard Food Bank. This year, organizers were hoping to do even better.

"The snow only added an extra wrinkle and though process but it's going well," said Nancy McKinney, Director of the Ballard Food Bank at the starting line.

"Everyone is in great spirit and 1,500 people signed up,"

David O'Neal, one of the organizers of the Turkey Trot said that the food bank supports 800 families in Magnolia, Ballard and Queen Anne.
"The cool thing about this event is that for every dollar donated, we donate $3 worth of food," he said.

This event is a casual run/walk. There's no personal timing and no exact 5k course.

For many participants it's more about doing something fun with family and friends than it is about shooting for a personal best.

Melissa Negretti from Greenwood was doing the run with perhaps the youngest participant of the Turkey Trot. Pushing her newborn baby in a stroller, Negretti said this is her first run since having the baby.

For the Colemans it was a family affair also. Peter and Leslie Coleman were in town to visit their sister, Nancy Coleman, who convinced them run the Turkey Trot together.

For one couple however, the run meant something more. Rebecca Diaz and Augustin Ruiz, both soldiers from Texas, enjoyed their last run together on American soil.

"I'm in Seattle at the Port before I'm getting deployed," Ruiz said. "So this is our last run in the U.S."

If you recognize anyone in the slideshow let us know and we’ll make sure they get tagged appropriately. anner@robinsonnews.com