ST. GEORGE – The Arthritis Foundation is calling for people to take action against arthritis by taking part in the 2013 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, which takes place Saturday, at 8 a.m., at Vernon Worthen Park, and benefits the Arthritis Foundation.

As the nation’s largest holiday run/walk event, the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk kicks off this holiday season to raise awareness for America’s leading cause of disability, and to celebrate the holiday season, participants tie jingle bells to their shoelaces and don festive holiday costumes. Attendees may also visit the Elf Village featuring kids’ crafts and a holiday costume contest.

Consisting of a 5K Run, 5K Walk and 1K children’s Fun Run with Rudolph, the St. George Jingle Bell Run/Walk has become a St. George holiday tradition, offering activities for the entire family and bringing together the community in support of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis and its related diseases.

“The prevalence of arthritis in our nation is surging, and we cannot ignore it,” said Scott Weaver, CEO of the Arthritis Foundation – Great West Region. “Events like the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis help bring the community together to raise awareness and funds that are critical to the advancement of research, health education and government advocacy.”

Each year, the Jingle Bell Run/Walk selects a community citizen as the event honoree. The role of the event honoree is to serve in a leadership position to help raise awareness and funds for the Foundation.

This year the Arthritis Foundation honors Lorri Economy who, in 1997, thought her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis was a death sentence. However, the diagnosis initiated a substantial turn of events in her life as she began researching and implementing diet and exercise plans available. As she continued to grow, change and develop, she could see the gift in the problem.

In 2007, Economy decided to try a short beginner distance triathlon and, as of today, Lorri has finished marathons, half marathons, and Olympic distance triathlons. She evolved from barely being able to run for 90 seconds on a treadmill, to completing marathons and finishing in just over four hours.

“My health problems challenged me to discover my finest traits buried deep within my soul,” Economy said. “It is part of who I am now, I am always looking for ways to grow, transform, and become the best I can be. Of course there are some things that I cannot do; however, I choose to focus on all the things that I ‘can’ do.”

Economy’s friends and family will be running together to raise funds in honor of her ongoing journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Read more about Lorri Economy’s story here.

To sign up and join one of the nearly 100 Jingle Bell Run/Walks for arthritis nationwide, visit the St. George Jingle Bell Run website or telephone 801-536-0990.

About the Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. It robs one in every five adults and 300,000 children of living life to its fullest. The Arthritis Foundation leads the way by helping people with arthritis live better today, and creates better tomorrows through new treatments, better access and, ultimately, cures. They do this by:

• Funding life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades
• Fighting for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions of Americans with arthritis
• Partnering with families to provide empowering programs and information

As the nation’s largest private funder of research, public health programs and advocacy on behalf of the 50 million Americans with arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation has set an impact goal to reduce the number of people suffering from arthritis-related physical activity limitations by 20 percent by 2030.

Event details and contact information

• When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to noon
• Where: Vernon Worthen Park, St. George.
• Registration fees: Adults $35 prior to event, $40 day of event | Kids $10 prior to event, $15 day of event
• To register: Online St. George Jingle Bell Run website or call 801-536-0990
• For more information about the Arthritis Foundation: Online Arthritis Foundation or call 800-542-0295
  

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