By Mary O’KEEFE

For many, Thanksgiving Day began with an early morning 3.2-mile run and a donation for those in need. The occasion was the 24th Annual Thanksgiving Day Run and Food Drive that has become a foothill tradition that fills Memorial Park with runners, walkers and supporters of all ages.

Cindy Crane had been a volunteer for the event for a long time, but this year decided to walk the 5K.

“I want to go from volunteering to participating,” she said.

Mariam Balcazar is part of the committee at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge that organizes the annual run.

“I have been part of the organization for the last five years,” she said.

Capt. Christopher Blasnek from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. –Crescenta Valley Station was at the event for the first time.

“I have heard this event was outstanding,” he said. LASD had deputies working the event supported by reserve officers, volunteers and Explorers, he said.

When he first arrived, Blasnek did not think he would walk the 5K, but had his shoes in the trunk of his car just in case he changed his mind.

In addition to the sheriff’s support, amateur ham radio operators were on-site with a mobile command. Dave Bassett was manning a ham radio.

“I am here to be net control for the run,” he said. “I will be monitoring on the ham band and the police band for communications throughout the whole race.”

Bassett and the Los Angeles County Disaster Communication members regularly work out of the CV Sheriff’s Station as volunteers.

“We do this year round,” he said. He pointed out that in case of disaster, like an earthquake, cellphones will most likely not function; however, ham radio communication will work.

There were several volunteers who worked the event, from gathering food donations brought by runners in support of the CV Sheriffs food drive to registering runners.

Catherine Ko is a junior at CV High School and an officer with the Key Club.

“Many of our members were here at 6:30 [a.m.],” she said. “The Key Club is involved with our community.”

Senator Anthony Portantino has been coming to the Thanksgiving Day Run for two decades.

“Each year it gets bigger and better,” he said.

He enjoyed being in an event that is so steeped in tradition, and one that is for a good cause.

Robert Thomas was preparing for the run with his son.

“This is my second year,” he said. “It’s so much fun.”

A couple of years ago, his son Phillip won first place and last year he came in eighth. Thomas was not certain how well he would do this year, but knew he would start out with his son and expected he would soon be left behind.

“Last year I came in 90th but this year … I don’t know,” he joked.

He was just happy to be running in the same race with his son, and both of the Thomases did well. Once again, Phillip was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 15:38. He was followed by Phillip Gonzalez at 15:39, J.D. Kieffer at 15:54, Michael Duncan at 16:12 and Alex Lowe at 16:42.

And Thomas did better than last year. He came in 62nd over all.

Capt. Blasnek got caught up in the excitement, put on his shoes and walked the race.

  Mary Okeefe