The Erie Street Miracles will soon be hosting their second Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. The race is slated for Dec. 7 and will step off at 11 a.m. between Wes Point Park and City Hall. Last year, 300 people participated in the 5K, observed John Tomaselli, the group’s president. “This year, we’re hoping for 400,” he said. “A lot of the feedback we got from last year’s participants were they liked the size and they liked that it wasn’t uber competitive. We stress to keep it accessible to runners or walkers of any level.” Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Show Caption1 of 2Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Expand   As of now, the Erie Street Miracles have about 30% more particiapnts than last year at this time. The majority of those folks who have registered so far did not particiate last year, Tomaselli said. “We have a big influx of new participants, so because of that, we’re hoping of the 60% of runners, the 300 from last year will sign up here in the last three weeks,” he said. Erie Street Miracles, based in Willoughby, is dedicated to providing Christmas mornings to families uprooted by domestic violence, burdened by illness, or searching for some spirit in the season, according to its website. That may mean answering a letter, placing a call, or delivering a gift for under the tree. Each year, the Erie Street Miracles strive to make the 5K a little bit bigger and better, Tomaselli said. Participants received T-shirts, swag bags and medals last year. This year, each participant will receive a Santa hat, courtesy of Crumbl Cookie, and a winter market will also be incorporated throughout the morning of the race. “We worked closely with the Heart of Willoughby, who puts on the summer markets,” Tomaselli said. “We approached them since we’re going to have 400 or so folks participating.” Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Show Caption1 of 2Last year, 300 people participated in the Miracle on Erie Street 5K in Downtown Willoughby. (Kelly Swope)Expand University Hospitals will have a booth at the race, Harmony Yoga will feature a pre-race stretch and Chiro CLE in Willoughby will provide minor adjustments for participants. “We’ve had other folks reach out to say, ‘I’d love to have a table there and maybe do a changing station or something that would benefit runners,’ ” Tomaselli said. “We’re trying to build a little community and the market this year will be a big part of it.” Tomaselli said that over the four years Erie Street Miracles has been in existence, nothing but the best support from the community has been experienced. “We focus our outreach and our giving in the Willoughby, and Lake County areas, so we focus our partnerships on people who want to sponsor the race or donate to Erie Street Miracles,” he said. “Year over year, we are amazed at the support we get from our sponsors. It means the world because it allows us to do the real work, which is providing Christmas mornings for those in need.” The 5K remains the group’s biggest fundraiser, Tomaselli said. “Getting participants and sponsorships is what we do from the middle of the summer until now,” he said. “We’ve always been blessed, but the real work we love to do is the work that comes after and working with folks like Forbes House of Lake County. This year, we’re going to be able to participate with Friends of Recovery.” If Erie Street Miracles has the participation they had last year, roughly $12,000 will be made off of the race, Tomaselli said. “We love making people happy on race day,” he said. “It certainly is overwhelming when you look at the folks and the impact you have, but the real impact we want to make is with families on Christmas morning.”