Hundreds of local residents spent a beautiful Thanksgiving morning taking part in the 10th Annual Douglas Run/Walk for the Cure Turkey Trot.

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The event had just under 600 people take part in a series of races while helping raise money for those local families battling cancer.

Many of those taking part have somehow been affected by cancer and have been helped by Linda Gomez, the event organizer who is also a cancer survivor herself.

The morning began with a series of kids runs which started with a 40-yard run for kids ages 2-4. Next was a 400-meter run which was followed by a 800-meter run.

Gomez said 60 kids in all took part in the three races.

“That number is up from last year,” she said.

The 5K run/walk was the main event. Gomez said she had over 100 runners taking part and over 400 walkers.

Luis Gonzalez, a former Buena High School athlete who now runs for Paradise Valley Community College but also has family in Douglas, was the overall male winner finishing the race in a time of 16-minutes, 58 seconds. Daniel Zamora was second with a time of 18:02 and Albert Mejia third with a 19:34.

Former Douglas High School track star Stacey Aguayo was the overall female winner finishing with a time of 23:48. Second and third went to the Cormier sisters of Kristi and Kacey who turned in times of 23:50 and 23:55 respectively.

“I hope everyone had fun and knew that by participating they were helping Douglas friends and family that had or have cancer,” Gomez said. “The morning was filled with all kinds of emotion with people remembering loved ones that had left because of cancer, and those that were celebrating because their loved ones were still with them.”

Gomez said the Turkey Trot is short and sweet starting at 8:30 A.M. and people are usually home cooking by 11 knowing that have exercised and can have double whipped cream on your pumpkin or pecan pie following that delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner.

“It was a day filled with blessings as all of my children came home to help me celebrate 10-years of survivorship,’ Gomez said. “The day was a success in every possible way. Thank you Douglas residents for helping make our event so special!”

Below are the top finishers in each of the races: 40-yard run (ages 2-4), 1st Benton Hickman; 2nd Edward Gomez; 3rd Pablito Duarte; 4th Natalia Serratos; 400-meter run (ages 5-8), 1st Sammy Parra; 2nd Ty Partain; 3rd Alex Grijalva; 4th Sarah Berry; 800-meter run (ages 9-12), 1st Easton Rose; 2nd Paige Mariscal; 3rd Konnor Cormier; 4th Mario Berry; 5th Tino Martinez.

The 5K run: Male 11-14 division: 1st Gustavo Melendez; 2nd Jesus Loreto; 3rd Ricardo Melendez. Female 11-14 division: 1st Kaycie Cormier; 2nd Morgan Steinmann; 3rd Emeri Melendez. Male 15-19 division: 1st Luis Gonzalez; 2nd Alfonso Mejia; 3rd Alexio Esquer. Female 15-19 division: 1st Samantha Tapia; 2nd Marilyn Grijalva; 3rd Karla Loreto. Male 20-29 division: 1st Daniel Zamora; 2nd David Melendez; 3rd Mike Palombo. Female 20-29 division: 1st Stacey Aguayo; 2nd Kristi Cormier; 3rd Jacque Hernandez. Male 30-39 division: 1st Ricardo Ayala; 2nd Jeremy McBride; 3rd Jose Acuna. Female 30-39 division: 1st Veronica Acuna; 2nd Kim Esquer. Male 40-49 division: 1st Heinz Steinmann; 2nd Paco Esquer; 3rd Marcelino Montoya. Female 40-49 division: 1st Veronica Atencio; 2nd Michelle Steinmann; 3rd Michelle Hurtado. Male 50-59 division: 1st Hal Atencio; 2nd Alan Contreras; 3rd David Grimm. Female 50-59 division: 1st Adela Estrada; 2nd Cindy Depweg. Male 60 and over division: 1st Ruben Teran; 2nd Neal Diltz; 3rd Michael Ferranto. Female 60 and over division: 1st Mary Hedger; 2nd: Jo Depweg.