Former legislators Pete Schwartzkopf and Ernie Lopez, along with 310 muppets, showed up for the Rylie’s Smile Turkey Escape 5K Thanksgiving morning outside Rehoboth Beach between Blue Coast and Thompson’s Island along a road called Veteran’s Way. 

“It was ten years ago we passed bipartisan legislation making THC available to kids, and also passed a bill that kids could take it at school, " Schwartzkopf said.

Rylie, now a sophomore theater major at Temple University, was that kid in need. She subsequently started a foundation called Rylie’s Smile that helps kids and families dealing with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.  

A kids’ race was followed by a 5K, then a crowd of one-mile walkers.

Eric Lipuma, 32, of Richmond, Va., was the overall winner in a fast time of 15:55. He was followed closely by Nick Petito, 15, a Cape cross country runner, who ran 17:46. Lee Mayer, 34, of Lewes was third in 19:13. 

Joana Fortier, 35, also of Richmond, was first female in 19:17. Andrew Merlo, 33, a former Cape point guard, rounded out the top five with a 19:34 clocking. 

Brian Tuma, 47, of North Carolina was male masters winner in 19:51. Teri Welsh 58 of Timonium, Md., won the female masters race in 24:17.