The 2017 Jingle Bell Run will bring a merry helping of festive holiday cheer to Glendale on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 7 a.m. at the Glendale Central Park. Jingle Bell Run is the nation’s most jolly holiday-themed 5K run. Participants wear their favorite holiday costumes or ugly Christmas sweaters and tie bells to their shoes creating a chorus of jingles as they run or walk through the course.

Starting and ending in decorated downtown Glendale, this year’s Jingle Bell Run will feature adorned streets of Brand Boulevard and the Americana, a visit from Santa, carolers, festive costume contests and other holiday surprises. Entry fees start at $25 for kids and $45 for adults and includes a T-shirt, medal, timing chip and bells for your shoes. Register online at www.JBR.org/LosAngeles or call (323) 954-5750.

The 2017 Jingle Bell Run Los Angeles will honor two locals who are battling arthritis and a rheumatologist. Arthritis causes slow and painful deterioration of the body’s bones, ligaments, cartilage and tendons. More than 54 million Americans have arthritis (one in four adults), including five million adults and 50,000 kids in California. All Jingle Bell Run proceeds will support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to conquer and cure arthritis.

Youth honoree, Nathan French, is 14 years old who lives in Burbank. He was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis when he was 11 years old. French hopes one day to be able to pursue his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL, but in order for that to happen, there will need to be more funding for research to find a cure for arthritis.

Adult honoree Liz Morasso of Los Angeles is battling rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Morasso strives to use her personal experience as a teen and young adult with rheumatic disease, together with her professional training and social work values, to translate the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to her work and personal interactions.

The Jingle Bell Run is nationally sponsored by AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme Regeneron and UglyChristmasSweater.com. Locally the event is sponsored by Downtown Glendale Association, LA Federal Credit Union, Genentech and Pfizer.