This past Saturday, Simmons Hanly Conroy joined with the Arthritis Foundation as its presenting sponsor of the 27th Annual Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk for Arthritis in Alton, Illinois. The annual race raises awareness and funds for arthritis research.
Nearly 400 runners and walkers attended the race, which followed the firm’s Miles for Meso route. The race started and ended at Simmons Hanly Conroy’s national headquarters building. Afterward, participants enjoyed a pancake breakfast at the nearby Knights of Columbus on Fourth Street.
“With the help of Simmons Hanly Conroy as the local presenting sponsor, we are happy to report we met our goal of $35,000 and actually raised just over $38,000 for the event,” said Donna Henderson, the Arthritis Foundation’s Special Events Director for the Eastern Missouri area.
This year’s event also educated attendees by sharing personal stories of people diagnosed with arthritis. Arthritis has no age limits, as evident by Fallon White’s story, who was diagnosed as an infant.
“Fallon was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at 18 months,” said Henderson. “She is almost 3 and has her arthritis under control at this point.
True to its name, the Jingle Bell Run encouraged runners to dress up in holiday attire, adding a festive spirit to the race. Participants decked themselves out in red and green and covered their outfits with bells and mistletoe.
Two teams of firm employees participated in the race. Gary Payne, attorney and risk management director, led one, and the other was organized by pharmaceutical attorney Holly Nighbert.
“The race was a great team-building exercise,” Holly said. “I’m hoping next year we can get even more firm employees to participate so we can have one big Simmons Hanly Conroy team.”
Click here to read an article about the race in Riverbender.com.
