Shauna Baldetta, my daughter McKenna and I getting ready for the Jingle Bell Run.

Saturday, December 11th I had the pleasure of participating in my first Bellingham Jingle Bell Run to benefit Arthritis.   In September a friend’s 14 year son Andy Teshera was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and my knowledge on the disease began to grow.   I had always thought arthritis was a disease you got in your old age, not something you were diagnosed with in your teens, or sometimes even earlier.

Andy’s Mom Shannon Chilcote immediately went to bat against this disease and teamed up with Bill McHale’s restaurant in Bellingham to help form the largest of Bellingham’s Jingle Bell Run teams.  Andy’s family, friends and classmates joined forces and came out in huge numbers creating a team of over 130 people and raising over $6,300 to help fight arthritis. 

This being my first Jingle Bell Run I was amazed by the number of people who turned out on a cold morning during the busy holiday season to take time to help raise awareness to a disease that is being fought be many of those around us.  Being a part of the Billy McHales/Andy Teshera Jingle Bell Run team truly made me proud to call this area my home. I was touched my the incredible outpouring of support for Andy and all the others courageously fighting arthritis. I am looking forward to making the Bellingham Jingle Bell Run a part of my families holiday traditions.

If you would like to donate to the Andrew Teshera/Billy McHale’s Jingle Bell Run you can do so until December 31st by visiting the team donation page.

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