Published: November 23, 2009 10:14 pm      

2009 Jingle Bell Run/Walk raising funds for Arthritis Foundation

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

INA — Residents from Southern Illinois will be joining forces Dec. 5 on the Rend Lake College campus for the 2009 Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk.

The event includes a Snowman Stroll FunWalk, a 5K Run, a 5K Walk, and a non-competitive Reindeer Run for children ages 5 to 12.

This is the first year competing in the fundraising event for the team “The Vern Elves” and its captain, Kathy Asbery.

“Most importantly, our team is working to raise money for arthritis,” Asbery said. “We will have fun too. ... We have about 13 people on our team right now, and we’re looking for more. We’d like walkers and runners, and many of the team members are bringing their kids to participate too.”

Asbery said the name of the team comes from a previous running team with the River to River Relay in Southern Illinois.

“A group of us ran the River to River last year, and we were called Team Vern,” Asbery explained. “We decided to just continue that name.”

Amy Newell, who is one of the members of the Vern Elves, said this is also her first year participating in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk.

“I have recently wanted to start running for more health benefits, so I’ve been running on my own,” Newell said. “I’ll be doing my first ever run this Saturday in Peoria and it’s also a fundraiser. I’m friends with Kathy Asbery, and she asked me to join them, and I was thrilled to do so.”

Newell said she looks forward to the team camaraderie.

“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone doing something for a good cause,” Newell said. “There’s a lot of people who have arthritis, people from a lot of different ages. There are young people who have arthritis, all the way up to older people, all different ages. I feel good about participating.”

The Vern Elves are currently ranked number one for fundraising for the event, and team members include Asbery, Newell, David Asbery, Kerstie Harlow, Kristofer Harlow, Ronald Harlow, Amy Jones, Mike Klein, Annette Martin, Angel Rector, Cindy Tinsley and Lisa White.

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of more than 46 million Americans living with arthritis, one of the nation’s leading causes of disability, according to information from the foundation. The mission of the foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Since its founding in 1948, the foundation has funded more than $380 million in research grants and has helped the public through providing health education, pursuing public policy and legislation and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk will get underway on Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. Registration for all events is from 7:30 to 8:40 a.m. The Snowman Stroll will begin at 8:45 a.m.; the 5K Run will start at 9 a.m.; the 5K Walk will start at 9:05 a.m.; and the Jingle Bell Post Event party will be from 10 to 11 a.m.

Local sponsors of the event include St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital; the Orthopaedic Center of Southern Illinois; Southern Illinois Rheumatology, SC; Health Alliance; Continental Tire North America; and the State Bank of Whittington.

Anyone who would like information about the event, or how to participate or donate, may contact the Arthritis Foundation at 993-1777.