ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Anyone who's ever run a race event knows a few things - training is hard work, running the race is fun and usually benefits a great cause, and racers get free stuff.
And every year, thousands flock to the streets of Roanoke to run the Roanoke Rescue Mission's Drumstick Dash on Thanksgiving Day. But this year, runners won't just get the normal t-shirt with a Dash logo. The t-shirt for the 10th annual Drumstick Dash was designed by a Cave Spring High student, 14-year-old Lindsay Merritt, who said she created the design in just 10 minutes.
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Merritt said she drew the artwork - a brightly-colored turkey - while at the Greek Festival. She was with family and they were in a hurry to fill up on Greek favorites, so she finished the drawing in about 10 minutes.
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"I wasn't like really trying to get it on the shirt cause they were in a hurry. I was the last one. They were like 'come on, we want to go eat food,'" Merritt explained.
The Drumstick Dash covers the mission's annual kitchen costs - which goes a long way to keeping those in need fed and sheltered all year long.
Merritt was humble about her design being chosen for the shirts. She said she only told a few friends at school about her accomplishment.