Montana Tech ASSP Club organizes Turkey Trot to benefit Butte Emergency Food Bank

Montana Tech’s American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) student chapter is inviting the campus and Butte community to lace up their running shoes this Thanksgiving for a good cause. Riley Lubick, a sophomore majoring in occupational safety and health (OSH), is organizing the Turkey Trot, a fun run and walk that will collect canned goods for the Butte Emergency Food Bank.

The event will take place Thanksgiving morning, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the races starting at 9:30 a.m. Participants will gather in the Three Bears parking lot, where they can choose between a one-mile walk or a 5K route. Instead of a registration fee, participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to donate.

“I’ve been running for seven years, and I’ve always wanted to add something to the running community here,” Lubick said. “We’ve never really had a consistent Turkey Trot in Butte, so I wanted to create something people can look forward to each year.”

Lubick is vice president of ASSP. He hopes the event will become an annual tradition supported by the student group.

“When I brought the idea up at one of our meetings, everyone was excited to get behind it,” he said. “I’ll be around for a few more years, and I want to keep building on it so people expect to see it year after year.”

The event is designed for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.

“There’s just something about being in an environment like that — hearing the starting gun, being around other people, and feeling the energy,” he said. “It really brings people together.”

Participants can sign up the day of the event by completing a brief waiver. Those who register will also be entered into a door prize drawing.

Lubick hopes the Turkey Trot gives runners some peace on what can be a busy holiday.

“Running is calming for me,” he said. “It’s a great way to relieve stress, and I hope others find that joy too. We hope to make this a fun, healthy, and meaningful way to start the holiday.”