POMEROY — The Eighth Annual “Keep Your Fork” 5K Road Race is set for 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 28 at Meigs High School.

The annual race has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition in Meigs County and raises money for scholarships that go to Meigs High School graduates who participated in cross-country and track and field. Over the last eight years, around $13,000 has been awarded to those graduates.

This year, race day registration is from 9-10:30 a.m. though participants should arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the race. Registration is open to both runners and walkers. Registration is $16. Over 100 participants have already registered early for this year’s event with last year’s race drawing over 200 runners/walkers.

Awards include plaques for the top three male and top three females finishers; medals will be given to first place winners while ribbons for second-fifth place winners will be awarded in each male and female age group. Age groups include six-13, 14-17, 18-22, 23-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over. A special award will be given to the winner of the 14-17 age group. Those participants under 18 must have a parent’s signature to participate in the race.

In addition to scholarship funds, the race also raises the memory of the late Brandi Thomas, a member of the Meigs High School Cross Country Track and Field Team who died in 2002 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Shortly before the accident Brandi registered to be an organ donor and she went on to assist others with her organ and tissue donations after her death. This is another issue the run/walk helps to promote.

Brandi’s parents, John and Cheryl Thomas, along with several other family members decided to organize the race in the girl’s memory and bestowed upon it the unique name. Brandi’s uncle Mike Kennedy is the coach for Meigs High School’s Cross Country Track Team and has also been instrumental in organizing the race.

“Keep Your Fork” is derived from an inspirational story sent to Kennedy following Brandi’s passing. The story was about a young woman who upon discovering she only has three months to live decides to make her final arrangements. One of these arrangements was that she be buried with a fork. The reasoning behind the fork was that at most socials and dinners after the dishes from the main course are cleared, someone invariably says, “keep your fork,” because something better is coming, whether it be dessert or an afterlife. The fork is a symbol the best is yet to come which is the reason behind the race’s unique name.

At last year’s race John and Cheryl held a special quilt pinning ceremony with other local organ donation recipients. The Thomas’ pinned a personally made quilt square on a mock quilt to honor Brandi’s gift of life to others. The square became part of Lifeline of Ohio’s traveling quilt.