MONROE, CT — Fawn Hollow Elementary School held its annual Turkey Trot on school grounds Wednesday and the theme was, “Legs Strong, Hearts Strong, Hunter Strong.” Students raised over $5,000 for Hunter Eannotti’s family as a show of support for the fourth-grader’s battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, according to Jenna Rice, a physical education teacher.
“We wanted to support Hunter, so we made it a fundraiser,” Rice said of the Turkey Trot. “We said, ‘this year, let’s show Hunter how much we support him by working hard.’ The kids will do as many laps as they can in a half hour.”
Traditionally, the entire school participates in the Turkey Trot together to celebrate the coming of Thanksgiving, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rice said grades took turns coming outside to run.
Hunter, 9, and his classmates posed for a photo behind a banner with the day’s slogan. Then Rice and Monica Brooks, who wore a turkey costume, led the children in the “Cha Cha Slide.”
Moments later, a crowd of parents watched their children run laps as a deejay played Taylor Swift’s song, “Shake it Off.” The turkey mascot gave out high fives as children ran by.
Dennis Eannotti, Hunter’s father, came to the school to watch the Trot with his oldest son, Mason, 12.
“In true, typical fashion the community has been unbelievable about supporting our family and giving what they can at this time,” he said of the fundraiser. “It’s truly amazing.”
