threading

gistfile1.py

from time import sleep
from threading import Event, Thread

def main():
    # set
    to_run = Event()
    to_run.set()

    # start thread
    worker = Worker(to_run, 1)
    worker.start()
    print 'worker started'

    # wait for 5 sec
    sleep(5)

    # clear
    to_run.clear()


class Worker(Thread):
    def __init__(self, to_run, interval):
        Thread.__init__(self)
        self.to_run = to_run
        self.interval = interval

    def run(self):
        while True:
            if not self.to_run.is_set():
                break
            print 'hello'
            sleep(self.interval)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()