Words by Marisa Nevels-Johnson | Image by Al Blanton
Thanksgiving morning in Jasper will bring runners, walkers, and families together for a local tradition that supports women in recovery. The fourth annual Turkey Trot – Chasing Recovery 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run is scheduled for Thursday, November 26, in front of the Walker County Courthouse.
The 5K begins at 8 a.m., followed by the one-mile fun run at 8:15 a.m. Check-in and packet pickup are scheduled from 7 to 7:45 a.m. Registration cost is $25 per runner, and the event welcomes dogs on leashes. Participants are encouraged to wear Thanksgiving-themed attire.
The event is open to those who want to compete, walk the course, or enjoy a holiday morning with family. The 5K has a 1-hour, 45-minute cutoff, and special prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. Participants who register by November 14 are guaranteed a race T-shirt; shirts may be limited after that date.
Proceeds from the Turkey Trot support 3D Revolution LLC, a faith-based recovery organization based in Nauvoo. The organization provides a recovery home for women dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and also operates a thrift store.
In addition to race registrations, organizers are seeking sponsorships from local businesses, churches, and community organizations. Sponsorships help provide hygiene products, household necessities, biblical counseling, workforce training, life skills development, and safe housing for women in the organization’s residential recovery and transitional housing programs. Several sponsorship levels are available, with opportunities for recognition through event signage, social media, and promotional materials.
3D Revolution Program Director Wynelle Milstead encourages community members to visit the organization’s thrift store, located at 615 Highway 78 West in Jasper, where proceeds help support 3D Revolution and its new outreach mission: transitional housing. The need for continued support became clear as Milstead stayed connected with women after they graduated from the program.
“They didn’t have anybody to help them with their children,” she says.
She recalls helping one woman get her daughter to school when the mother had to work in Birmingham, and helping another family get a child to a summer program when the mother started work early. Milstead described the graduates as friends, but said many lacked the support system they needed to manage everyday responsibilities.
The idea for 3D Revolution grew from conversations between Milstead and Amber Sellers. A 2023 Walker Leader story reported that Milstead, who had been involved with local recovery organization Hope for Women, began praying about creating a local outreach. The program took shape as a recovery home for women in Walker County.
The Turkey Trot began in 2023 as a fundraiser for 3D Revolution, with its first 5K and one-mile race starting in downtown Jasper. The race returned in 2024 and 2025, making this year’s event its fourth annual run.
The starting line is in front of the Walker County Courthouse at 219 19th Street West in Jasper. Those interested can register through RunSignup or find more information by visiting the event page on Facebook. Businesses or organizations interested in sponsoring the event can contact Milstead at wynelle@3drevolution.org for information about available sponsorship opportunities. WL
