By Mark Ambrogi
It started out as a small neighborhood run to raise money for cancer patients in memory of Michael Treinen.
The 2007 Noblesville High School graduate was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia three weeks before graduating. Treinen died May 25, 2008. Later that year, the first run was held with about 50 runners.
The 9th Annual Michael Treinen Foundation Turkey Trot is set for 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24), starting at Noblesville’s Courthouse Square. Last year, nearly 2,000 runners and walkers participated.
“When he went in remission, he started fundraising with the schools to raise money for equipment that was more sized for the older kids,” his mother Kelly Treinen said. “When we think of Riley Hospital for Children, we think of little kids, but Michael was 19 years old when he was at Riley, so you can imagine how much bigger he was than everyone else. We funded quickly a few (therapy) bicycles that were wheeled to the patients’ bedrooms, for little kids and bigger kids.”
Treinen said the focus this year is to support creating state-of-the-art physical therapy opportunities at Riley Hospital, along with supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and helping local families.
She said the focus is to support Riley Hospital’s moving through treatment program.
“He felt exercise is the way to go and to get moving kept him upbeat,” Treinen said.
Michael had always been active, playing football, lacrosse and hockey in high school.
The Treinen Foundation gives out three Noblesville Education Foundation scholarships for boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and football.
“We’re trying to live Michael’s vision and pay it forward,” Treinen said.
Treinen and her husband Tom are co-executive directors of the foundations. Their daughters, Meredith, Madeline and Michele are on the board as well. Their neighbor, Chris Yeakey, had the idea to start the race.
The Turkey Trot was held in the neighborhood for two years before moving to downtown Noblesville.
Registration is $30 per participant. To register for the race, visit michaeltreinenfoundation.com. Walk-up registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on race day.
