NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — On a chilly Thanksgiving morning, 600 hit the streets of Newtown Borough for the first-ever Turkey Trot.

And what a Trot it was.

Waved on by turkey mascot Miles O’Gravy, the race stepped off on North Congress Street below a turkey-themed inflatable archway. From there, the race wove through the tree-lined streets of town, making its way down North State Street, Green Street, Liberty Street, Chancellor Street and Frost Lane before returning to North Congress Street.

The first to cross the finish line was Feasterville resident Christopher Leonard, who completed the race in just under 17 minutes.

Council Rock North graduate Claire Pfansteil of Newtown was the first female to cross the finish line. She is a member of the track team at Hamilton College where she is studying environmental science. Pfansteil was also the first female to cross the finish line at the Shamrock Shuffle held in March.

Organized by Boss Events, the Turkey Trot raised funds for the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to the children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and correctional officers who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.

The event also honored the life of Newtown Police Officer Brian Gregg who was killed in the line of duty two decades ago on Sept. 29, 2005.

A park on North Congress Street and a portion of the Newtown Bypass today bear his name. Now, an annual event will continue his legacy, giving back through the Heroes Scholarship Fund.

Miles O’Gravy was the 5K Run’s mascot. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Off and trotting. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

“I never met Brian, but I’ve been told he was out in the community, that he was super kind and super helpful,” said Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr, who helped organize the event. “This event hits home. This is exactly what he was. And I know he’d be here walking around and talking to people.”

Orr said with the 20th anniversary of Gregg’s death this year, the department wanted to do something that would carry on his legacy.

“I’m not an event planner so I talked with Carly (Seiler-Bovell) with Boss Events and she came up with the idea of a 5K. She suggested a Christmas-themed event, but I wanted something closer to the anniversary. Then it hit me. Thanksgiving Day. Stores are closed. There would be less impact on the community,” he said.

Orr said even before they started registration, in what he says felt like “a blink of an eye,” they raised $1200 in race sponsorships.

“This is such a special event. We even had people from Alaska and California running who were coming home for Thanksgiving. We wanted to make it a family event where everyone comes. And that’s how it turned out. We’re very pleased.”

Registration was capped at 600, which filled up quickly, said Orr. “Next year we’re looking at 1200.”

Carly Seiler-Bovell with Miles O’Gravy and Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr.

The first to cross the finish line was Feasterville resident Chris Leonard, who completed the race in just under 17 minutes. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Council Rock North graduate Claire Pfansteil of Newtown was the first female to cross the finish line. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)