Raleigh, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/03/2010 -- An estimated 3,063 people participated on Thanksgiving Day in the 2010 Ridgewood Turkey Trot (www.ridgewoodturkeytrot.com), breaking the previous record of 2,700 set last year. Race officials estimated $22,500 was raised in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Eastern North Carolina.

“It is amazing how the Ridgewood Turkey Trot continues to grow each year,” said Bruce Bokish, event director. “The continued success could not be possible without tremendous dedication from all of the runners, volunteers and supporters each year.”

Held at Ridgewood Shopping Center in Raleigh, people from 74 North Carolina cities and towns, 35 states and as far as Afghanistan participated in the Thanksgiving Day tradition.

Brady Lawrence of Raleigh was the first place male and overall winner of the competitive 8K race, finishing in a time of 26:31. Marisa Ryan of Durham was the fastest female competitive winner, with a time of 29:39. The Ridgewood Turkey Trot included four events: competitive and noncompetitive 8K races, a one-mile fun run and a kids’ dash.

“The Turkey Trot is a different way to bond with my parents on Thanksgiving morning,” said Annie Snodgrass, a race participant from Raleigh. “It’s a great holiday tradition to start for charity.”

Ridgewood Shopping Center, Mizuno and Fleet Feet Sports, Raleigh served as presenting sponsors for the event. Race results will be accessible at http://www.precisionrace.com. Race photos will be available at http://www.hillevents.printroom.com.

About the Ridgewood Turkey Trot
The Ridgewood Turkey Trot has become a family tradition for Triangle residents and beyond. In 2009, more than 2,700 people from 56 North Carolina towns and cities, 37 states and five foreign countries participated in the event, helping raise more than $22,000 for charity. For more information, visit http://www.ridgewoodturkeytrot.com.

About MS Events
MS Events is a Triangle nonprofit, dedicated to coordinating bike and foot races that raise funds and awareness for local causes. The organization began as a group of volunteers and continues today as such with nonprofit certification. Currently, MS Events raises funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Eastern North Carolina. 2010 events include: St. Patty's Run Green 8K, Cup 'n Cone Tour and the Ridgewood Turkey Trot. For more information, visit http://www.mseventsnc.org.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Each year, through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we devote approximately $125 million to programs and services that enhance more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS. In 2007, the Society invested more than $46 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National MS Society today at http://www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800 FIGHT MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.

The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.