Jingle bells will be ringing throughout Downtown Houston on Sunday, December 9, 2001 for the 19th annual Jingle Bell Run and Walk benefiting the Downtown YMCA's community service programs. More than 5,000 runners and 3,000 participants, many sporting holiday costumes, will make Sam Houston Park very colorful for this fun-filled family affair.

"This is a community event in which individuals and families celebrate the holidays while raising funds and awareness for a valuable Houston program," said Joey Brasher, executive director of the Downtown YMCA. "We are excited by the continued growth and success of the event."

Participants of all fitness levels are sure to find their niche in one of the four races that will take place at the Jingle Bell Run and Walk. The one mile kid's run, for those 13 and under, will kick-off the event at 2:30 p.m. The festivities continue with the five-mile wheelchair event at 2:55 p.m. The bells keep on jingling for the five-mile adult run -- the premier event -- at 3:00 p.m. Last, but not least, is the start of the three- mile family walk at 3:15 p.m. All events begin near Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston.

The first place male and female finishers in the five-mile run will each receive two round-trip, domestic airline tickets courtesy of Continental Airlines. No one will go home empty handed; participants in all events will receive a prize at the finish line.

Participants are also invited to put their imagination to work and don their best holiday costumes for a chance to win one of many prizes in the costume contest. This colorful tradition is long-standing at the Jingle Bell Run and Walk and is open to registered participants. Creativity and enthusiasm are the basis for scoring the contestants.

Prizes will be awarded for the best kid costume, runner-up kid costume, best adult costume and runner-up adult costume. Group costume awards include the best group costume and the "centipede" -- a group of three to seven people attached throughout the course.

Proceeds from the Jingle Bell Run and Walk benefit thousands of youths and seniors who participate in the Downtown YMCA Community Service Programs. Programs include afterschool care, homework and study sessions, youth sports, educational field trips, day camps, active older adult activities and so much more. The YMCA brings people together for programs that help the individual, and in turn, strengthen the community as a whole.

For more information about the event, to volunteer or to register, call (713) 758-9295 or visit www.jinglebellrun.org.