Local runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes are invited to participate in the 16th Annual Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run, which will be held on the roads of Bethpage on Saturday morning, Dec. 20.

The Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run has traditionally been one of the largest recreational sports events on Long Island, attracting as many as 1,500 participants to help usher in the holiday season in a family fitness and fun manner. The 2003 edition of the run will once again be conduced under the auspices of the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) with Retail, Wholesale & Chain Store Food Employees Union Local 338, RWDSU/UFCW and its president, John R. Durso, providing the key financial support. Propel Fitness Water will be back as a very valued sponsor as well.

Registration will take place at Bethpage High School on Cherry Avenue in Bethpage from 7:30 to 9:15 a.m. on the morning of the 20th, and the starting gun for the 5 kilometer run will go off promptly at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a quarter mile fun run for youngsters age 10 and under starting at 8:45 a.m. with awards presented to all participants.

The 5 kilometer course will take the participants on a scenic winter tour through Bethpage community and back again to the finish line at the high school for bountiful holiday refreshments. Everyone is encouraged to show up in costume and there will be a gala "costume parade" starting at 9 a.m., with prizes to be awarded to those in the best holiday season costumes. Walkers are most definitely invited to be part of the fun.

Awards will be given to the top male and top female finisher overall in the 5 kilometer run, plus the top three male and top three female finishers in each of 14 five-year age groups (through 75 and over), the top three male and top three female finishers in each of two "Clydesdale" weight divisions and the top three male and female wheelchair finishers. Everyone who enters the 5 kilometer run will receive a high quality commemorative Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run sweatshirt.

Veteran race directors Bob Sherman and Joe Sturgess are putting together another spectacular morning of family fitness and fun for everyone. Santa Claus will once again be the official starter and hordes of reindeer, elves and other denizens of the holiday season will be at Bethpage High School to make sure that a good time is had by all.

There will be a giant post-race door prize drawing, with every participant eligible to win one of many valuable gifts. Highlighting the drawing this year will be the award of two tickets to California on Jet Blue Airways (a $1,196 value). Proceeds of the 2003 Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run will be distributed to the Bretton Bowl Help the Needy Families Fund administered by the Bethpage PAL, the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education and other worthy charities.

Everyone who is participating in the run is encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to registration on the morning of the run. The toys will be distributed to needy children at the St. Mary's Children and Family Services Holiday Party.

The entry fee for the 5 kilometer run is $18 for those who register by Dec. 10 ($16 for members of GLIRC), $20 for those who register between Dec. 11 and 19, and $25 for those who register the day of the run. Please note that the Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run will be the first GLIRC race to implement the club's new 50 percent discount policy for youngsters age 16 and under, so that GLIRC members 16 and under can register for only $8 and non-members 16 and under can register for only $9. For entry forms and/or more information, call Linda at the Greater Long Island Running Club at 349-7646.