Jingle Bell Run going virtual

By Mark Ribble

ESSEX — The 26th Annual Jingle Bell Run, Walk and Wheel is going virtual this year, but organizers are hoping for a great response from the community to help support Community Living Essex County.

“We were quite pleased with the results of our virtual Apple Festival,” said Tony DeSantis, Manager of Community Relations for Community Living Essex County. “So we’re hoping people can get on board with the Jingle Bell Run too.”

DeSantis is grateful to the folks at Ken Knapp Ford, who have taken the lead in creating this year’s run as a virtual event.

“James Knapp has become a friend and colleague,” DeSantis said. “His people have been working hard to keep this going.”

The dealership’s involvement is due to the long-time support of the late Bob Blair, who was the chair of the event for many years and an employee at Ken Knapp Ford.

“They’ve taken this and ‘run’ with it,” said DeSantis. “In honour of Bob.”

For James Knapp and his crew, they are working on making the virtual event as spectacular as they can make it.

“We want to build as much enthusiasm and excitement as we can,” said Knapp. “We don’t want to stop that tradition.”

The people at Ken Knapp Ford are busy working on registration for the virtual event, which has typically drawn about 350 competitors to the run in Essex.

Two of last year’s participants enjoy the Jingle Bell Run, Walk and Wheel in Essex. This year’s event will be done virtually.

Sun photo

This year, you can run, walk, or wheel, anywhere and anytime between December 4 and 7. Organizers are encouraging participants to dress up in their best Christmas garb and take selfies and post them on the Jingle Bell Run social media.

“We’ve got prizes for best selfie and best costume,” said Knapp.

He explained that the live event usually provides entrants with food, drinks and swag bags, so there was a challenge of trying to recreate that with the virtual run.

“Once they register, they will receive a pre-race package,” he said. “After the event, they’ll get a post-race package, which will include a medal for finishing.”

Different challenges are being created to make things a little more interesting, such as corporate challenges between certain sectors of the business community.

According to DeSantis, this entire year has caused Community Living to re-adjust their plans for fundraising.

They have cancelled their annual gift wrapping fundraiser at Devonshire Mall due to COVID. “That’s a $25,000 fundraiser,” he said. They are looking at alternative methods to replace that lost revenue.

“We had to pivot with the Apple Festival and the Jingle Bell Run,” he said. “We’re hoping that the Jingle Bell Run will be a success.”

If you’re not in shape, there are no worries, according to DeSantis.

“Ryan at Rec Health and Fitness has developed a couch-to-5K training series,” he said. “So people can get prepared.”

Anyone wishing to enter the virtual event and raise money for the worthy cause, should visit www.raceroster.com and search for the event there. This will allow you to register and get started on your virtual race experience.