Long Beach residents can burn off some holiday calories between Thanksgiving and Christmas at the annual Fred Walker Memorial Jingle Bells 5K on Saturday, December 2.
Starting at 8 a.m. at the Long Beach Town Green, the run/walk will offer a 5K and a one-mile fun run for kids.
Medals/trophies will be awarded to those who place overall and within age groups. The one-mile fun run for kids will be held immediately following the 5K.
Residents are invited to run, walk or roll at the event, which this year will benefit Long Beach High School Scholarship Funds. Also at the event, the Long Beach High School baseball team will sponsor a U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots collection. Participants are asked (but not required) to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
A holiday costume contest will be held after the race.
Pre-registration is required. T-shirts are guaranteed to registered runners. The cost to register for the 5K is $25 for adults ages 18 and older, and $15 for children and students under 18. Registration for the 1 mile fun run is $15.
The Jingle Bells 5K, presented by the Coast Cares Foundation, started when the Gulf Coast Substance Abuse Task Force held a race almost two decades ago to raise funds for its mission. The Force was formed by former Long Beach Alderman, School Board trustee and area businessman Fred Walker, in whose memory the present-day race is named. CCF was formed to continue the race when the task force folded after Walker’s death in 2016.
To register, visit www.gulfcoastrunningclub.org. For more information, contact Race Director Leonard Vergunst at director@gulfcoastrunningclub.org or 228-380-7037.
