By Kate Bartlett
This Thanksgiving, November 26, marks the 5th annual Ellicottville Turkey Trot hosted by Warrior Fitness and Wellness. This 5K fun run and walk raises funds to support the Ellicottville Playground initiative for an all-inclusive play space in the village. The scenic, mostly flat and well-marked course loops through the village of Ellicottville and is focused on movement and community rather than intense competition.
Brad Poole, owner and founder of Warrior Fitness and Wellness, started the Ellicottville Turkey Trot in 2022 as a way to gather the community in a wellness activity on Thanksgiving. “It’s a fun way to bring people together and start the day doing something healthy,” explains Brad. “It’s a great way to celebrate being grateful for our health, and or community, before the Thanksgiving meal.”
The Turkey Trot starts at 8am at Warrior Fitness, looping 5K through the village, returning to the starting point. “The course is well-marked and easy to follow,” explains Brad. All participants receive a medal for a keepsake, with light refreshments at the finish line. It is a non-timed event with holiday apparel and Thanksgiving-themed costumes highly encouraged. “Everyone is welcome to stay and hang out afterwards,” says Brad. “We have snacks and mingle; it feels good to be healthy and do good in good company.”
For the first time this year, no registration is required and participation is free! Donations are welcome (cash only, day of event), with proceeds to benefit the Ellicottville Playground, a non-profit organization raising funds to build an all-inclusive play space in the village. “This is an incredible cause that we’re happy to support. This project would make an incredible positive impact on our community.” Participants are also asked to kindly bring a non-perishable food item(s) to donate to a local food pantry.
The Ellicottville Inclusive Playground initiative is a grassroots community project spearheaded by a group of local mothers who set out to build a $1 million, completely all-inclusive playground in the Village of Ellicottville. Partnering with the national non-profit organization Unlimited Play, the project aims to completely replace the outdated, inaccessible playground at the Ellicottville Village Park, located next to the skatepark. The initiative was inspired by the need to have an inclusive, universal design so children, parents and grandparents of all physical, cognitive and social abilities can explore and play side-by-side. Honoring Ellicottville’s status as a premier WNY tourism and winter destination, the custom layout—built in collaboration with Little Tikes—features a ski-resort and mountain theme.
The race has grown over the past 5 years, starting with only 50 participants. Last year and the year prior, around 150 people participated, tripling the number from the first event. “It’s great to see so many people getting together and making this a tradition. I love seeing everyone gathered together in good spirits, starting our day together in a healthy way.”
As founder of Warrior Fitness and Wellness, Brad is focused on encompassing and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at a very young age, doctors initially gave Brad a grim prognosis, telling his family he might not survive past his teenage years. Brad chose to fight and turned toward fitness. Brad realized how movement and exercise slowed his lung deterioration and helped his mental health. He worked at a few gyms and fitness centers before founding Warrior Fitness and Wellness in Ellicottville in 2021 and Little Valley in 2023. The facility is widely recognized for its community-driven approach, welcoming both year-round locals and seasonal visitors with flexible drop-in options, personal training at two locations, Ellicottville and Little Valley.
Brad encourages everyone to come out and participate on Thanksgiving, regardless of age or ability. “It feels good to do good, and be healthy together.”
Everyone, locals and visitors, pets and kids alike, are invited to participate, walk or run, in the Ellicottville Turkey Trot 5K. No registration is required, participants are encouraged to donate (cash, day of event) and bring a non-perishable food item to the race which starts at 8am on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 (a waiver will need to be signed, please arrive at least 15 minutes before start).