Each year, for the past 39 years, the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary have teamed up to host an annual Turkey Chase Charity Race.
Prior to the pandemic, the event was run each year on Thanksgiving Day in Bethesda and was the largest 10K in Montgomery County. This year (as with last year,) the event will be virtual. Participants across the DMV region are invited to walk, run or bike on their own from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30.
As was the case last year, the virtual event allows the event to be expanded throughout the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. region in a format that allows registrants to walk, run or bike on their own any date from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30. Participants may choose to do a 5K run or walk (or a combination), a 10K run/walk, a two-mile walk and a 10-mile bike ride. Families, organizations and companies are encouraged to enroll and participate as teams. Registration is open at turkeychase.com.
The event helps provide much-needed funds for community programs and support for YMCA’s throughout the DMV. “The past year has been a tougher year than usual for many families in the Washington, D.C. community,” explained Angie Reese-Hawkins, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. “The Y has been actively supporting many of these families over the past year and the need is more critical now than ever.”
Throughout the pandemic and continuing, Washington area YMCA’s have provided a broad spectrum of community programs, services and support including serving more than 146,209 pounds of meals and produce and helping 14,416 local families; providing daycare at four YMCA’s for essential workers; hosting blood drives (area blood banks have been in great need); providing daycare for families throughout the DMV; and providing online classes, while also opening Y’s under area guidelines and restrictions.
Sponsorships of the Turkey Chase are available from $3,000 to $30,000 (title) and provide great visibility in front of a large audience. Complimentary entries come with sponsorships. For sponsorship information, please contact Carla Larrick, vice president of operations or Genette Comfort, vice president of philanthropy for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington at [email protected].
Back again this year, is the opportunity to donate $200 to feed families. A “Food for Good” donation provides a week’s worth of local produce for five families while also supporting local farmers. “More than 400,000 individuals face food insecurity within the Metropolitan Washington region,” said Reese-Hawkins. “The YMCA addresses food insecurity by working with Mid-Atlantic farmers to distribute food to DVM families.”
For more information on the 39th Annual Turkey Chase, including sponsorship, registration and “Food for Good” donations, visit www.turkeychase.com. For more information on the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, visit www.ymcadc.org.
YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Hosts Pickleball Pro Exhibition Event on June 7th with #1 Ranked Pickleball Player in the World
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States and combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
To serve members of all ages in this easy-to-learn sport that brings all people together, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington has set-up pickleball courts at YMCA’s across the DMV. YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase (9401 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814) currently boasts 14 courts and will host a Pickleball Exhibition event featuring Ben Johns, number one player in the world, and his brother Collin Johns, who plays with Ben on the number one doubles team in the world.
Local pickleball pros Sonny Tannan and Eric White will join the Johns brothers in this event on Monday, June 7, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
A two-hour clinic will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. where participants can sign up to hone their skills with the pros. There are 32 spots available. The cost is $150 for members and $175 for non-members.
A two-hour Pro-Amateur Round Robin will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with room for up to 32 participants to play with the pros. The cost is $40 member and $50 non-members.
The evening concludes with an exhibition doubles match featuring Ben Johns, Collin Johns, Sonny Tannan and Eric White from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m; and this is then followed a Q & A session with the pros. The exhibition doubles match is FREE to all who register to attend.
“The response to Pickleball has been overwhelming by our members. Pickleball is an inclusive and social sport where you do not need to be athletic but still challenges you physically. There are less injuries for adults, and it improves eye-hand coordination for children. We are proud that the Y will have a dedicated space that allows for individuals to meet other people and families to connect more. Pickleball is the perfect pandemic sport since people can still socially distance and get great exercise both outdoors and indoors at an extremely affordable price” said Pamela Curran, executive vice president and COO for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.
To purchase a spot in the clinic or the Pro-Amateur Round Robin (or both!), or to register to attend the FREE exhibition, please visit the event information page at www.ymcadc.org/pickleball.
The YMCA is All in on Pickleball
The game of pickleball has become extremely popular in physical education classes in Montgomery County Public Schools. The rising popularity of the sport has led to several pickleball courts popping up across the county. Now, the YMCA is getting in on it, starting with both MoCo locations (Bethesda and Silver Spring).
Alex Tsironis, the physical education content specialist at North Bethesda Middle School (also the founder of The MoCoShow) told us that he was first introduced to the sport 4 years ago when he started teaching it. It quickly became one of the most popular activities in all P.E. classes at the school.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington will launch what will become one of the region’s largest Pickleball programs. The Y’s Pickleball program will open with more than 20 courts throughout the region this year and twice that number by the end of 2022. Pickleball will be offered at most Y locations beginning with YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, YMCA Silver Spring and YMCA Arlington Tennis and Squash Center. Participants can look forward to free open houses, demonstrations, tournaments, clinics and opportunities for volunteers to serve as league ambassadors. An open house will take place on Thursday, May 20th at YMCA Silver Spring from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
Pickleball was created in 1965 by Congressman Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell during a summer vacation. It was an attempt to entertain bored children using whatever equipment came to hand. Now, decades later the sport has grown across the nation. Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong. It can be played using relatively inexpensive paddles and plastic balls, on existing tennis courts (although the courts are outlined for Pickleball, which are badminton-sized.)
“The response to Pickleball has been overwhelming by our membership. Pickleball is an inclusive and social sport that allows players to get outdoors, have fun and work out. We are proud that the Y will have a dedicated spaces that allows for individuals to meet other people and families to connect more. Pickleball is the perfect pandemic sport since people can still socially distance and get great exercise both outdoors and indoors at an extremely affordable price” said Pamela Curran, Executive Vice President and COO for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.
According to USA Pickleball, the sport is now played by over 3.3 million people. The Y’s Pickleball monthly calendar of events will be released in a few weeks and more information will be available atwww.ymcadc.org.
Featured photo courtesy of the City of Rockville.
