Why we gobble
WHEN: Thanksgiving morning 9am
WHERE: UBTech Campus (320 Aggie Boulevard Vernal,UT 84078)
WHY: Proceeds of this event benefit each year's recipient families! We choose local people in need and raise funds for them.
This event is the perfect start to your Thanksgiving morning!
It starts at 9am on the morning of Thanksgiving at UBTech college on 320 Aggie Boulevard in Vernal, UT. At the event, there are lots of opportunities to donate, participate in raffles, purchase gobbler merch, mingle and have refreshments!
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Registration and ticket purchase are available prior to the event online and the morning of the race, in person starting at 8am.
The registration fee is $25 and 100% of the proceeds go to the families in need. The purchase of raffle tickets is also donated 100% as all the items for raffle have been donated by local businesses and residents! Gobbler merch and T-shirts are available for purchase prior to the event on the website. A limited amount of merchandise will be available the day of the race as well as vintage merchandise from prior years!
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Online registration begins in September and will be open until the day of the race. Follow our instagram for latest updates!
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Each registrant will need to sign a liability waiver which is included in your registration. Registrants this year will receive a medal and finisher prize while supplies last.
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We are so grateful for each sponsor, family, runner, business and individual that participates in this event! We always say "little by little a little adds up to a lot." Any and all donations can help them get through the hard times but seeing the generosity of people around them will help heal their hearts. As a collective whole we an be a shoulder to lean on during some of their hardest times. Come participate in our comm"UNITY" gobbler run Thanksgiving morning!
MEET THE RECIPIENTS!
Meet the 2024 Gobbler recipients, Cassi and Amy!
Scroll down to read their stories
CASSI NOYES​
Cassi has been with her high school sweetheart, Bryan for 28 years and happily married for 24. Together they have two amazing children, Rylee (19) and Hunter (16).
Early this year, Cassi felt a lump on her right breast, and on February 14th, she got the worst Valentine’s Day gift ever, a diagnosis with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. This diagnosis came with the news that her cancer would need to be treated very aggressively over the course of the next 6 months with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. She is scheduled for a double mastectomy, further screenings to determine if radiation is necessary, and an eventual reconstructive surgery when her oncology team is certain the cancer is gone.
Because of the aggressiveness of her treatment, Cassi had to quit her career as a hairstylist that she has loved for the past 23 years. She found it particularly difficult to leave The Territory Salon for Men where she has most recently been working.
Cassi says “This has been the hardest and most scary thing I’ve ever been through in my life, but I just have to keep pushing through and take it day by day. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the love that has been shown to my family and I since my diagnosis.”
AMY HAMMOND​
​Amy has deep roots in the Vernal community. Most recently, she has lived here with her kids, Mason (age 23), Dylan (age 20) and Laney (age 18). Amy is a school counselor in Vernal. One summer she found painful lump in her breast. She went in for testing and later, a call from the doctor changed her life with just one sentence. “I’m sorry Amy, you have cancer.” She went on to explain it was a very rare, very aggressive and difficult to treat form of triple negative breast cancer.
Over the next few weeks, Amy’s new oncology team came up with her treatment plan and instructed her to go make good memories before she came home to start an aggressive chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen. Following would be a double mastectomy and potential radiation.
As a single parent, Amy’s biggest concern is “how do I continue to work so I can afford my home, insurance, and basic necessities.” It is a burden she is grateful not to face alone.
In her words, “Cancer steals enough from a person. I don’t recognize anything about myself today but cancer has shown me the most beautiful display of love and humanity. I feel so blessed and supported by the best family and community. I will never give up. I am fighting not only for my 3 kids, but the hundreds of littles at school who I care so deeply for.”
2023 RECIPIENTS
Heather Migliaccio
Heather Migliaccio moved to Vernal 30 years ago and said she could not imagine a better place to live.
"I have a wonderful family that includes my husband, a daughter who is married with 3 amazing kids, a son who is married with 2 amazing kids and my youngest son, who is currently attending college in Texas. And I could never forget my sisters that have been my biggest supporters and motivators through all of my treatments and diagnoses."
Her cancer story began back in the summer of 2020. She was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She then underwent 2 surgeries, a biopsy, chemotherapy and radiation, her treatments lasting until spring of 2021. At which time, she was placed in a clinical trial for a new type of radiation.
In spring of 2022 she started having trouble with her right side.
They found out in April 2022 that her cancer had metastasized to her brain giving her a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
She then underwent a craniotomy to remove the tumor. This was followed by radiation to the brain and about a year of weekly chemotherapy infusions with immunology. She was placed in another clinical trial that actually grew her cancer in a lab to find out which treatments were most effective on her type of cancer (which had mutated from the original cancer samples).
In April 2023 her cancer had grown enough that they were forced to change treatments.
Heather underwent many treatments and fought hard until she passed in August 2024. Our hearts go out to this sweet woman's family.
"Cancer has definitely been a journey, I have had over 60 blood tests, 9 brain MRI’s, 19 Ct scans, 8 biopsies, one port placement surgery, a brain surgery to remove the tumor, 2 chest surgeries, 9 radiation treatments and over 44 chemotherapy infusions plus a daily targeted therapy drug.
I have been shown so much love and support from my family and friends. I am truly
humbled and blessed and I love every day that I am given in this beautiful world.' - Heather
Dawn Hansen
Dawn Hansen was born in St. Louis, Missouri and has been a resident of Vernal, UT for 45 years. She has 3 children, Michael, Alexa, and Cody as well as 2 beautiful grandchildren Elayame and Callie. She currently works at Desert Power and has worked there for 4 years.
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"In April of 23’ my life was changed forever when I was diagnosed with, “HER2 positive Invasive Mammary Carcinoma.” In 5 short months I have had many Drs appointments, undergone a Mastectomy, traveled back and forth to the Wasatch front for my chemotherapy, and have dealt with the mental, emotional, and physical side effects that comes along with cancer. But thankfully, I will be done with my treatments in December."
"Since April, I have experienced the lowest of lows, and the highest of highs. The outpouring of love from family, friends, and the community is something I can never say thank you enough for. I’m truly honored to be nominated for this year's Gobbler. I’ve seen the blessing this has brought to so many people's lives who have gone through what I’m currently facing. IM TRULY SO THANKFUL."
"To this beautiful community, Thank you. All my love, Dawn."
ABOUT US
Behind the Scenes
RANDI HONEYCUTT
Founder - "All the things"
ANNALEE FOSTER
Radio, editing - "The Brains"
KELLY MORRILL
Design - "The Webmaster"
ASHLEE COONRADT
Merch - "The Looks"
OUR STORY
Meet the Gobbler Girls!
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Randi Honeycutt and her husband BJ started this event over 10 years ago to support local families in need. Since, it has only grown and helped more and more families! "We don't HAVE to do this, we GET to do this," Randi says when asked why she does it. "Yes it can be hard to leave family and run in the cold on Thanksgiving morning, but we are going to show up to help those battling cancer, illness, tragedy or loss of a loved one. It's one day to show them we care. They don't get a choice. We do!" Annalee came to Randi's rescue just after the event was founded. Kelly has joined forces with the girls in recent years after seeing how being a part of this event can change so many lives and Ashlee came to the march rescue in recent years. Since then they have created many many memories together helping numerous wonderful families in our home town.
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Each year these girls end up being the face of the gobbler because of all the time and effort they spend in the community gathering sponsorships, doing radio ads, creating and gathering raffle items for the event and taking care of the many tiny details that no one would even think about.
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Although these girls help out in the open, there are many many local businesses and volunteers that lend a helping hand both behind the scenes and at the event. The gobbler girls always want to recognize each individual that plays a part in pulling off the Gobbler!
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Every single donation, every single racer, every single volunteer and every penny donated makes a huge impact on these families each year. Little by little, a little always adds up to a lot!