31 Years of Ringing the Bell for a Cure 

By Anthony Williams | Aug. 10, 2026 

When Joanna Helon first joined the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run, she wasn’t thinking about breaking fundraising records or leading one of the event’s most successful teams. She simply wanted to do something positive in the face of a disease that had already shaped much of her life. 

As captain of Jo’s Jinglers, Joanna has devoted 31 years to bringing people together for Jingle Bell Run, building a lasting legacy of community, hope and impact. What began in Columbus, Ohio, has grown to reach and inspire participants across multiple cities, including Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Seattle, raising more than $300,000 to support arthritis research, resources and advocacy efforts. Along the way, Joanna has become a shining example of what’s possible when one person chooses to turn personal challenges into purpose. 

How Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Inspired Joanna’s Advocacy 

Joanna was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (now known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis) as a child after her parents spent more than a year searching for answers. Like many families navigating arthritis, hers faced uncertainty and frustration before receiving an accurate diagnosis. The experience left a lasting impression and helped shape Joanna’s determination to make a difference for others living with the disease. 

“When I was first diagnosed, compared to what’s now available in medications, there is a big difference,” Joanna points out. “And the medications now actually modify the disease, which is significant. Over the next several years, I’m really hoping that there is a lot more progress in those treatments and the search for a cure, which the Arthritis Foundation encourages and champions.” 

Today, arthritis remains a part of Joanna’s life. But rather than letting it define her, Joanna has spent decades helping others understand that people with arthritis can lead full, active and meaningful lives. That spirit is on full display every year at her local Jingle Bell Run. 

“For me, it’s so much about the hope of what can be, about finding a cure for arthritis,” she says. “And it’s a happy event. You put your bells on and jingle down the street.” 

Starting Small, Dreaming Big 

Back in 1995, Joanna gathered a handful of supporters and formed her first Jingle Bell Run team. The goal was simple: Raise awareness, have fun and support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission. Year after year, the team returned. 

Friends invited co-workers. Family members brought neighbors. Children grew up and began participating alongside their parents. What began as a modest effort steadily grew into one of the most recognizable and successful teams in the nation. Some years, more than 100 participants have joined Jo’s Jinglers, typically arriving in festive costumes and coordinated holiday gear that make them impossible to miss. 

But Joanna will tell you the team’s success isn’t really about bells, costumes or even fundraising totals. It’s about people. “The community is what keeps us coming back,” she has shared through the years. Jingle Bell Run gives supporters a chance to rally around a cause, celebrate progress and show people living with arthritis that they are not alone.  

One of Joanna’s greatest accomplishments has been demonstrating the power of collective impact. Many people hesitate to start a fundraising team because they think they need dozens of participants or thousands of dollars to make a difference. Joanna’s story proves otherwise. Every successful team starts with a single person willing to take the first step. 

Over the years, Jo’s Jinglers has grown not because Joanna did everything herself, but because she invited others to be part of something bigger. Team members raise funds, recruit participants, share their stories and encourage one another. Together, they create momentum that extends far beyond race day. 

That team-first approach has helped Jo’s Jinglers become a fundraising powerhouse. Joanna is regularly recognized among the Arthritis Foundation’s top fundraisers, as well as a Champion of Impact — a distinction that celebrates individuals and teams making an extraordinary difference through community events. 

Building a Legacy: What a Jingle Bell Run Team Can Accomplish 

For many participants, Jingle Bell Run is a fun holiday tradition complete with festive outfits, jingling shoelaces and plenty of seasonal cheer. For Joanna, it’s also deeply personal. 

She understands firsthand the challenges arthritis can bring — not just physically, but also emotionally. She knows what it means to search for answers, navigate treatment options and live with a disease that many people don’t fully understand. That perspective fuels her commitment to the Arthritis Foundation’s mission and motivates her to keep showing up year after year. 

The funds raised through events like Jingle Bell Run help advance critical research, support educational resources, connect families and strengthen advocacy efforts for nearly 60 million adults and children in the United States living with arthritis. For Joanna, every dollar raised represents hope for a future with better treatments, better support and ultimately a cure. 

Thirty-one years is a remarkable milestone. Few volunteer leaders stay committed to a cause for that long. Even fewer continue growing their impact year after year. 

Yet Joanna remains focused on the same mission that inspired her decades ago: helping people affected by arthritis feel seen, supported and empowered. Her story reminds us that lasting change rarely happens overnight. It happens one conversation, one invitation and one team member at a time. 

It happens when someone decides to show up this year — and then comes back the next. 

How to Start a Jingle Bell Run Team 

Joanna’s journey began with a simple decision to get involved. Whether you’re living with arthritis, supporting a loved one or looking for a meaningful way to give back, Jingle Bell Run offers an opportunity to make a difference while building connections in your community. 

You don’t need three decades of experience to create impact. You just need a starting point. 

This year, take a page from Joanna’s playbook. Gather your family, friends, co-workers and/or neighbors. Choose a team name. Set a goal. Have fun. Most importantly, remember that every step and every dollar raised helps move us closer to a world where arthritis no longer limits lives. 

Because when people come together around a shared purpose, amazing things can happen. Just ask Joanna Helon.