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Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Memory of Brody Townsend

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HUNTINGDON (November 24) — It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in Huntingdon with the Never Quit Turkey Trot. Runners gather at the Carroll County Courthouse to honor or memorialize someone.
 
The event first started in memory of the late Lori Pearson of Huntingdon, who taught school in McKenzie and at Jackson State. She was an inspirational leader, mother, Christian and wife.
 
This year the Turkey Trot is in memory of Brody Cruz Townsend, 9, of Lakeland, Tennessee who died July 3, 2022.
 
According to sponsors of the Turkey Trot, he competed in last year’s Turkey Trot in Huntingdon and was a healthy young man. Just as in years past, he beat his sister, mother, and cousin in the race and would urge them to ‘pick up the pace’ in upcoming events.
 
Just a few weeks after that race, he was diagnosed with a very rare,, aggressive brain tumor. On New Year’s eve, he was in a wheelchair and never walked again with assistance. 
 
The DIPG tumor is aggressive and robs kids and families from all the luxuries in life.
 
Kelly Barnett Eubanks said the Turkey Trot has special meaning in the bicentennial year of Huntingdon. The November theme is moving forward.
 
The annual Turkey Trot is in its 11th year and helps raise money for victims of cancer.  This year’s theme was ‘Brave Like Brody.’ Scotty Pinson, one of the co-directors of the event, said Brody had 30 treatments, five surgeries, and numerous infusions. Even through the pain and treatments, Brody wanted to attend school - regardless if it was just a few hours in the day. 
 
Brody is survived by his parents, Lindsey and Nicholas Townsend; his sister, Taylor Townsend all of Lakeland, Tennessee; maternal grandparents, Keith and Cindi Cheek of Springville, Tennessee; paternal grandparents, Sara Marbury Townsend of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Terry and Wanda Townsend of Huntingdon, Tennessee; his aunts, Bridget (Kevin) Murray of Evansville, Indiana, Tiffany (Steven) Nolen of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Suzanne (Mark) Wilkerson of Paris, Tennessee, Tera Townsend of Nashville, Tennessee; his uncle, Justin (Megan) Cheek of Paris, Tennessee; and his cousins, Tatum Nolen of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Jessica French, Avery Cheek both of Paris, Tennessee, and Connor French of Paris, Tennessee.