A team from Alabaster’s Jim ‘N Nick’s restaurant will be running during the 2010 Mercedes Marathon while working to raise money for a local nonprofit organization.

Store General Manager Mike Waller and Marketer Tricia Garrett will run in the marathon Feb. 14, and the store will be collecting donations for the Birmingham-based Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs.

Jim ‘N Nick’s restaurants throughout the Birmingham metro area have partnered with the Bell Center to sponsor children at risk for developmental delay, Garrett said.

This year, the Alabaster store is sponsoring Helena resident Connor Sawyer, and is looking to raise $500 to benefit him before the race.

“Last year, we ran to fight leukemia, but this year Jim ‘N Nick’s in the Birmingham region partnered up with the Bell Center,” Garrett said. “Each store said they would sponsor a different child from the Bell Center, and we chose little Connor.”

All donations the store receives will be used to fund early intervention services, like speech, physical and occupational therapy, special education services and nutritional counseling, according to the organization’s Web site.

The Bell Center closely monitors the children and tailors its programs to meet each child’s needs.

Because Garrett will be running in the Mercedes Marathon, she said the fundraiser has a special meaning to her.

“I’ve run in a lot of races,” she said. “And the most rewarding ones are when you are running for something outside of the actual race.”

To donate to the fundraiser, visit Firstgiving.com/jnnalabaster, or call Garrett at 789-5582.