Runners, walkers, wheelchair athletes, and their families and friends from all over Long Island and beyond are invited to celebrate the Holiday season by being part of the fun at the Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt LLP Ho Ho Ho Holiday 5 Kilometer Run on Saturday morning, Dec. 15.

This year's Run will be held at an exciting new venue - the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. The start will be at 9:30 a.m., and the entire 5 Kilometer race will be staged entirely on the paths and roads within the Village. Thanks to the enthusiastic cooperation of the Nassau County Parks Department and the continuing generosity of the title sponsor, the Melville law firm of Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt LLP (Specializing in Intellectual Property Law), this year's edition of the Run promises to be the best ever!

This will be the 20th annual edition of the Ho Ho Ho Run, and new Race Director Ric Diveglio of the host Greater Long Island Running Club and his team are putting together another spectacular morning of family fitness and fun for everyone. More than 1200 runners and walkers are expected to toe the starting line, Santa Claus will once again be the Official Starter, and hordes of reindeer, elves and other denizens of the Holiday season will be at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration to make sure that a good time is had by all!

"While we certainly enjoyed the years that the Ho Ho Ho Run was staged in the Bethpage community," observed Diveglio, "we are really excited by the opportunity to bring the event to Old Bethpage, where we hope to combine the old time Holiday spirit that pervades the Village this time of year with all the fun and excitement of one of Long Island's largest 5 Kilometer races."

Proceeds of the 2007 Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run will be distributed to the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education, the Tender Loving Care Foundation, which sees to the needs of premature infants, and the Friends of Nassau County Restoration in support of programs at the Village.

There will be special prizes for the best Holiday costume and for the first "centipede" to cross the finish line. Runners and walkers are most definitely encouraged to run the 5 Kilometers in costumes appropriate to the season. There will, of course, be a fun run for the youngsters in the Village before the 5K main event. Everyone is encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to the Run to benefit local children in need.

Every entrant in the 5K will once again receive one of the high quality commemorative sweatshirts that are the trademark of this wonderful event. The Run will be followed by a giant Door Prize drawing featuring a 26 inch flat screen High Definition Television and a Model D50 Nikon Digital SLR Camera that retails for nearly $1000.

In addition to Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, race organizers are fortunate to have Local 338, RWDSU/UFCW and its President John R. Durso step up to the plate as the presenting sponsor once again, and to have Whole Foods Market and Kozy Schack back as very valued sponsors as well. Race organizers are very appreciative of the continued support of these outstanding corporate citizens.

Entry fees will be only $18 for those who sign up by Dec. 7 (50 percent discount for entrants ages 16 and under), $20 for those who register between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14, and $25 for those who wait until the morning of the 15th to sign up.

"We hope that every Long Island runner and walker will join us for this wonderful event," noted Run Director Ric Diveglio. "We are hoping to raise substantial funds for three deserving charities at the same time as we provide a great opportunity for wholesome family fun and fitness in the holiday season."

For entry forms or information, contact Mike or Linda at the GLIRC office at 349-7646. You can register on-line at www.glirc.org.