Jingle Bell
Run/Walk for Arthritis

Imagine the sounds of thousands of bells jingling as people run, walk and cheer in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk. Across the country, people like you tie jingle bells to their shoelaces, don festive holiday costumes, and join friends and neighbors in support of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control, and cure arthritis and related diseases.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis kicks off during the holiday season in communities nationwide to raise awareness of America’s leading cause of disability, while raising desperately needed funds for research, health education, and government advocacy to improve the lives of people with arthritis.

As the nation’s largest holiday run/walk event, the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis accommodates all
levels of fitness with a 5k fun run, 5k fun walk, and 1k kids run. Nationwide nearly 80,000 runners and walkers run individually or in teams of 10 or more each year to help raise money. Teams are forming now for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis in Portland and Bend. Participants can run or walk in honor of a friend or family member with arthritis, or to show that they are taking control of their arthritis.

With the prevalence of arthritis or chronic joint symptoms surging — now 46 million people or one in five adults and 300,000 children — the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis is a fun and festive way to support the Arthritis Foundation in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis.

To participate in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, volunteer, or form a team, contact Kim Mellen at the Arthritis Foundation at 503-245-5695 or kmellen@arthritis.org. Visit www.arthritis.org for online registration and event details.

12K’s of Christmas

Walkers and runners alike can enjoy the longer distance of the 12K’s of Christmas Holiday Run event. Taking place on the morning of Sunday, December 16th at Kirkland’s Marina Park near Seattle, the 12K’s of Christmas consists of a 12k walk/run, a 5k walk/run, and a fun post-race celebration inclusive of the free “Little Elves” 1k Kid’s Dash.

Hatched as a play off the Twelve Days of Christmas song, the 12K’s of Christmas Holiday Run event supports this connection with such items as the 12 on-course song-themed kilometer signs that were created by a local 6th grade class as well as a song-related participant costume contest. With one of the best city organized holiday decorating efforts in the Pacific Northwest, the downtown corridor of Kirkland also provides the perfect holiday atmosphere for this increasingly popular event.

Garett Slettebak of Pro-Motion Events, Inc. says, “we are excited for our expected increase in both the marketing exposure and participant attendance at the event. In total, more than 1,200 people are expected to participate in this year’s event.”

Registration and event information may be found at www.12ksofchristmas.com or by calling 206-729-9972. All registrants will receive a custom designed long-sleeve event shirt as well as plenty of day-of-event fun.

2008 Diabetes Expo
February 23, 2008

Do you have diabetes? Are you at risk for developing diabetes? Do you know someone with diabetes? Are you interested in a healthy, active life?

Then save the date for the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes EXPO presented by Safeway on Saturday, February 23rd in Portland, Oregon, at the Oregon Convention Center from 9am to 4pm. The Diabetes EXPO is a one-day event showcasing the latest products and services for people with diabetes.

This highly interactive event includes activities for people of all ages, including free product and food samples, cooking demonstrations, free flu shots, a Type 1 World with information for people of all ages living with type 1 diabetes, exciting lectures throughout the day, answers to your medical questions, free screenings, tips for healthy living, and a Latino World that will offer information and products in Spanish and will address the concerns of diabetes in the Hispanic community. The Diabetes EXPO provides the public with a unique opportunity to talk with health care experts, obtain important medical and nutritional information, and visit over 75 exhibitors. Admission is free.

For more information or to register, visit us at www.diabetes.org/OregonEXPO or call us at 1-888-324-2383.