Going on a ‘Jingle Bell Run’

The annual Jingle Bell Run, a 5K romp through downtown Glendale, raised $125,000 for the Arthritis Foundation this weekend, organizers said.

The amount was shy of a stated $150,000 goal, but the haul was the most raised in three years.

“It’s becoming our signature holiday event in the downtown,” said Helen McDonagh, one of the event’s organizers and a board member of the foundation.

PHOTOS: Jingle Bell Run raises $125,000 for Arthritis Foundation

On Sunday, about 950 runners and walkers passed 7 feet tall nutcracker statues and a decorated Americana at Brand as they made their way through the streets.

Some donned Christmas-themed costumes.

“It was a very good atmosphere in the downtown, there was great music, everyone seemed happy,” McDonagh said.

Before the 5K got underway in front of the Alex Theatre, two young people suffering from arthritis were presented with trophies as the year’s Jingle Bell Run honorees: 12-year-old Theo Sturm was named the youth honoree, while Jennifer Bachman was named the young adult honoree.

Proceeds from the event will go toward benefiting special summer camps for kids living with arthritis, which tops about 300,000 children who are living with the disease, McDonagh said.

In addition to raising money, she added that another aim of the 5K is to let people know the illness doesn’t just affect the elderly.