Festive Holiday Photo Contest Kicks Off 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- To kick off the 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation is launching the "Be There with Bells On" Flickr Photo Contest asking people to submit images of their favorite "bells" – from the Liberty Bell to sleigh bells.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/arthritis/46903/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101101/MM90499 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101101/MM90499 )

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis is a fun and festive way to kick off the holidays with family, friends and coworkers while positively impacting the lives of the 50 million Americans with arthritis. Thousands of runners and walkers will hit the nation's pavements, pathways and parks this winter to fight arthritis. With some 67 million Americans projected to have arthritis by 2030, now is the time to escalate efforts to prevent, treat and cure the most common cause of disability in the U.S.

"The Jingle Bell Run/Walk aims to raise funds in the name of preventing, controlling and curing arthritis," said Dr. John Klippel, Arthritis Foundation President and CEO, "all while encouraging daily physical activity for better health."

Submissions to the contest will be solicited online via Flickr and at all participating 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk events and entries will be housed on the Arthritis Foundation's Flickr page.  An overall contest winner will be chosen in January 2011 and will receive the grand prize of two roundtrip tickets and a weekend getaway courtesy of Delta and Hilton Honors.

For more information on the "Be There with Bells On" Flickr Photo Contest, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthritis-foundation/. To find the nearest Jingle Bell Run/Walk event contact your local Arthritis Foundation chapter or visit www.arthritis.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of the 50 million adults and 300,000 children living with arthritis, the nation's most common cause of disability. The Foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; supporting research and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $400 million in research grants since 1948. The foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-283-7800 or www.arthritis.org.

SOURCE Arthritis Foundation