Murphy – The second annual Gobble Gallop was hosted by Rotary Club of Murphy on Saturday in Fain Alley downtown.
With more than 30 pre-registered participants this year, club President Jacky Egli said the turnout was good for this year’s race, given the events of the last month or so referencing the difficulties faced by many people in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
“We’ve had good interest this year, and people are still signing up the day of again,” Egli said.
Egli added that the event raises funds for various club activities to engage youth and high school students. That includes sending students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Training, where they engage in various activities such as learning skills through ropes courses and are introduced to Rotary’s larger community goals embodying the motto of “Service Before Self.”
As for the new location this year, Egli said of the switch from Buck Bald Brewing to Fain Alley was “a way of integrating and utilizing this space in Fain Alley as a more central location for downtown Murphy, and to highlight it as a premiere event space.”
This space in Fain Alley has hosted music series in downtown as well and has become a sort of intentional urban-scape with its relaxing atmosphere, tucked away from the sidewalk bustle for Murphy’s many downtown events.
The Gobble Gallop was conceived of last year by Egli and her son as a unique way to gather racers for a very unserious “0K” run for a serious cause in furthering Rotary’s reach.
“We had brainstormed ideas for fundraising and that was the birth of the idea, and I brought it Rotary
as a fundraiser for our Interact and Early Act clubs in local schools,” Egli said.
That reach includes being able to send students to the training program. Egli said with the funds raised this year, the club hopes to send four students instead to two.
“The remaining funds will also go to our scholarship funds that we provide for local high school seniors for college aid,” Egli said.
The overall goals of the Rotary Club of Murphy is to involve students in leadership experiences by spurring action in the community to include beautification projects and globally focused service projects including clean water programs, such as Wells for Nora in foreign countries such as Haiti and Liberia.
Rotary member Dan Valentino again dressed as Tom Turkey and gave demonstrations as to how each “runner” should shake their tail feathers to victory.
Rotarian Gio Castiglione emceed the brief event and declared everyone a winner who trotted down the alleyway. The club also raffled off various prizes from local businesses and held an after-party celebration for all the “worn out” athletes at The Mason Bar, a primary sponsor this year.
Rotary Club International is proud to promote “service above self.” The Rotary Club of Murphy is always looking to build membership from citizens with a penchant for community service. Members meet at noon Mondays at Downtown Pizza in Murphy.
Details: Visit rotaryclubofmurphy.com.