Register Early!

The Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K is the annual Thanksgiving Day race held in Garner’s White Deer and Lake Benson Parks.  Family and friends, both human and canine, gather to enjoy a brisk holiday morning run or walk through the parks to help raise money in support of Freedom Ride Rescue’s mission to help abandoned, neglected and abused animals in North Carolina. 

Participation Opportunities

Turkey Day is our rescue’s largest fundraiser – all proceeds help us continue to bring in medical need dogs, orphaned puppies…. hospice cases.

Race options include 5K and a 1M Fun Run. Both the 5K and 1M courses are relatively flat paved trails and the seasonal beauty of these two parks is spectacular. Thanksgiving themed costumes, decorated wagons, strollers and baby joggers are encouraged.

Well socialized dogs are welcome on a 6’ or shorter leash – retractable leashes are not permitted. Virtual ‘racers’ are welcome to support us from a far and will receive a race shirt!

Since it’s inception, The Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K has been a very popular and well attended event.  The first year was capped at 500 participants and we sold out.  This year’s race will be limited to 1,000 participants. Registration fees increase as race day approaches, so register early!

Thank you 2024 Sponsors

We couldn’t do this without the support of our amazing sponsors!

Run/Walk

Competitive 5K runners, leisurely 5K and 1 mile, virtual

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Sponsor

Sponsorships available for all budgets

sponsorship options »

sign up to sponsor »

Donate Bags

Donate string bags with YOUR company logo on them

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Brewery Run Club competition

Bring your local run club to join the fun!

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Donate Supplies

Snacks, waters and granola bar donations needed

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Pet Signs & Sponsors

Get a directional sign on the 5K course with your pet’s face!

Order your sign »

Services

What We Do

Rescue Dogs

We are proud to be the crazy dog lovers who skip out on work to transport dogs from all over the state to their excited fosters’ homes … who stay up late searching shelter pages for that next “Freedom Ride” potential …. who volunteer countless hours making rescue a reality!

Provide Medical Care

Freedom Ride Rescue provides all supplies (crates, food, bowls) and gets the animal in for a vet visit (for a spay, neuter and/or vaccines); we’ll also provide flea and heartworm preventatives. Anything and everything to make a happy and healthy pet!

Find A Home

We love, rehabilitate and nurse an unwanted, unloved animal until they prance away with their fur-ever person as they start their most life’s wonderful chapter: the one as a cherished pet.

help save a life

Donations cover vet expenses, shelter fees, continuing long-term care, and any other costs that arise treating dogs in great need. We prepare our dogs for success with a microchip, spay/neuter and make sure they are up to date on vaccines and preventatives. We are a 501(c)(3) organization making your financial contributions tax deductible.

foster

Join our tight-knit rescue family! We need fosters until dogs are adopted, for temporary needs, for medical cases and/or for end of life hospice care. Supplies and vet care is provided. You help your dog blossom and find his fur-ever home and in the process learn what a rewarding experience fostering really is!

Adopt

Adopting a rescue animal helps to save the life of an animal in need, through no fault of their own! And you get a new best friend out of the deal. Seriously, what could be better than that? We take in all mixes of breeds and all ages! You can meet adoptable dogs at our weekly adoption events or put in an application for specific dogs.