Jingle Bell Run Set for Saturday

The temperature may be hovering around the freezing point, but more than 150 runners and walkers will be in Lilburn with their bells on Saturday morning.

Quite literally.

Participants in the second Jingle Bell Run/Walk in Old Town Lilburn are encouraged to come in holiday-themed costumes, including tying bells to their shoelaces.

The festive atmosphere will serve as the backdrop for the 5-kilometer event, which is open to runners and walkers and will raise money to fight arthritis.

Race-day registration begins at 7 a.m., with runners taking off at 8 a.m., and the walkers and team groups starting at 9:30 a.m. Post-race festivities begin at 10:30 a.m.

Registration is $30 for adults, $20 for kids under 12, and $25 for seniors.

The course starts at Lilburn City Park and runs throughout the newly paved Camp Creek Greenway Trail.

The expected turnout is an increase over the 100 or so who participated last year, said Emily Young with the Arthritis Foundation. Some runners have formed teams to raise money.

So far, nearly $15,000 have been raised through the event, far exceeding last year's total of about $10,000.

Young said 1.6 million Georgians, including 9,200 children, suffer from arthritis.

"Every dollar raised helps us get one step closer to finding a cure," Young said.

For more info, call 678-237-4448 or visit www.jinglebellrunwalkgwinnett.kintera.org.