NILES — From its humble beginnings 30 years ago to promote downtown Niles and benefit the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, the Thanksgiving Day Run has grown into a juggernaut.

Celebrating its 30th year, YMCA CEO Bret Hendrie expects somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 runners this year, especially if the weather cooperates.

The race topped 1,000 runners in 2003 and eclipsed the 1,500 mark in participants in 2008. In 2009, 1,750 runners took to the streets of Niles to establish a new record.

That record was broken again last year with 1,810 runners.

According to Hendrie, Ted Majerek and a group of runners from the YMCA started the event.

“The whole concept then was to have downtown on parade and bring people in through the run in order to promote the downtown,” he said. “The Y was obviously was a vehicle to help organize and manage the run. The concept is still there. The Y was always the beneficiary of the funds the run would generate and those funds are used to help with our financial assistance program.”

Through the efforts and funds raised by the race, the YMCA has been able to help families in need use the facility.

“We do not turn anybody away due to their inability to pay,” Hendrie said. “In 2010 for example, we provided a little over $210,000 in financial assistance for membership and programs to individuals and families in need. The run helps us offset those costs.

“It has evolved from a run where there were less than a couple hundred when it first started to we’re hoping to break the 2,000 mark. Last year we broke the record and right now early registration has been good and there is no reason why we cannot achieve that goal. The weather looks promising, which would be an added factor.”

Registration for the race continues through race morning. Online registration at www.classicrace.com will continue through Monday. Runners may also sign up at the YMCA through Thanksgiving morning.

“If it’s a nice day, we have done up to 350 to 400 registrations the day of the race,” Hendrie said.

The cost of registering until Nov. 23 is $25 for an individual or $45 for a family pack. Runners not wishing to have a commemorative shirt can register for $18.

Race day fees are $30 for an individual, $50 for the family pack or $20 for the no shirt option. Runners can register Thanksgiving morning from 7 until 8:45.

Through the years, another constant has been the help of volunteers. Hendrie said that more than 150 volunteers help make the event run smoothly.

Those people help with race day registration, aid stations, monitoring intersections and more.

“It takes a lot of people to make it safe and comfortable for the runners,” said Hendrie, who will be working his 21st race.

He noted that there are several individuals that have taken part in all 30 races. He also said that families are another big part of the Thanksgiving Day Run’s success.

“This is a very family-oriented event,” Hendrie said. “I have seen registrations for 15 people from the same family. Some of the runners have family who are working the race as volunteers. Last year we had runners from 27 states. People are home for the holidays or from school and they come out and run the race.”

Over the 30 years, technology has changed when it comes to scoring the event.

Hendrie can remember staying to well into Thanksgiving afternoon doing the scoring. Not many of the runners stuck around to see the results.

But with today’s chip technology, the awards ceremony begins around 11 a.m. and many of the runners attend to not only receive their award, but to cheer on other competitors as they receive their awards.

One of the unique features of the race is the awards for the overall winners, who take home a frozen turkey.

Another key component to the success of the Thanksgiving Day Run is the support of the business community.

“Our cost on shirts alone is around $10,000,” Hendrie said. “Without the support of our sponsors that money would come out of the funds being raised for the financial assistance program. So they are very important to us.”

First Source Bank came on board as the overall sponsor seven or eight years ago. It is joined in 2011 by Coldwell Banker, Martin’s, JES Vending Services, Econo Tees, Express-1, East Main Gardens, Allied Solutions, Cycle and Fitness, Lakeland Rehabilitation Center of Niles, Lynch and Drew Trial Attorneys, Pilkington and the Niles Daily Star.