Murphy – The third annual Gobble Gallop by the Rotary Club of Murphy raised more than $1,500 with its “Zero K Fun Run” on Saturday at Buck Bald Brewing downtown.
Known as “the shortest race ever,” the tiny marathon consists of a fun-filled gaggle of gallopers, who slowly pace to race for Rotary’s mission to “End Polio Now.”
While many said Jim “Hurkey Turkey” Gerke was the undisputed winner, everyone who crossed the finish line enjoyed helping the cause. Many attested to the fact that Gerke asked for “good luck kisses” atop his stuffed turkey mascot before the race.
Emcee Gio Castiglione corralled all the “mother-cluckers” he’d recruited from both in and outside the brewery into the official “coop,” also known as the starting line before the false start of the 20-something gathered with arms and “feathers” akimbo to strains of “The Chicken Dance,” urging them along the longest minute known to birds and beasts.
Rotary Club President Kadee Close said the club raised more than $1,500 between entry fees, donations and a 50/50 raffle on a Yeti cooler, which was won by Paul Murphy. The raffle was won by Buck Bald Brewing Murphy’s own Matt Wright, who opted to donate his portion of the winnings back to the club.
Close also said half of the proceeds will go to Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” campaign, with the rest going to the organization’s foundation “to be returned in the form of grants for our club to continue luncheons at First United Methodist Church and
support of Reach of Cherokee County along with our Smiles Project, which distributes dental hygiene kits to school-age children.”
The Rotary Club of Murphy, a nonprofit civic group, meets at noon Mondays at Mariolino’s restaurant on U.S. 64 West.
Details: Email rotaryclubofmurphync@gmail.com or call 828-516-7055.