The Arthritis FoundationWhy support the Arthritis Foundation?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that there are over 50 million people in the United States diagnosed with arthritis, which is over one-fifth of the general population. Their estimate grows to 67 million, or one-quarter of the general population, by the year 2030. Arthritis is a disease that affects people of all demographics, including 300,000 children affected by chronic auto-immune diseases conditions. The CDC also estimates that roughly one-third of diagnosed cases of arthritis result in some form of limited mobility or disability and costs the US economy $128 billion annually.

As the nation’s leading cause of disability, arthritis causes unacceptable pain and robs one in every five adults and 300,000 children of living life to its fullest. The Arthritis Foundation (http://www.arthritis.org/) leads the way in helping people with arthritis live better today and create better tomorrows through new treatments, better access and, ultimately, cures. We do this by:

As the nation’s largest private funder of research, public health programs and advocacy on behalf of the 50 million Americans with this painful disease, the Arthritis Foundation aims to reduce the number of people suffering from arthritis-related physical activity limitations by 20 percent by 2030.

Meet our 2012 honorees

Hailey Daniels – Team A.I.M. High

It seemed improbable that 15-year-old Hailey Daniels of Ogden, Utah could have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA).  She’s been a tennis player since she was nine and competes on her high school varsity team, includng a second place showing at regionals.  Active in student government, theater, and the cross-country team, her motivation and positive attitude knows no bounds.

Last summer, Hailey began to notice intolerable pain in her hands after writing for long periods of times and she began feeling weak-kneed while playing tennis.  When these symptoms didn’t go away, she brought them up to a physician that lived in the neighborhood.  A hunch that Hailey’s symptoms might be JRA was eventually confirmed as a diagnosis in September 2011.  The entire Daniels family was in shock, having not known it was even possible for children to have arthritis.

Hailey’s family reinforced her can-do mentality and she was soon looking for ways to turn her diagnosis into a positive experience.  Hailey reached out to the Arthritis Foundation, asking for ways to get involved in not just improving her own life, but also supporting our mission to improve the lives of others.  She continued playing tennis and running while making sure to get enough rest as her doctor recommended.  Two months after her diagnosis Hailey finished her first-ever half-marathon.  In her words, she wanted to “Kick arthritis to the side of the road.”

Hailey’s athletic background does not include endurance cycling but that did not faze her, or her parents, from accepting our invitation to be an honoree at this year’s Amgen People’s Coast Classic.  The Daniels family will be picking up bicycles and training all summer long to ride our North Coast Two-Day ride this September 9-10.

Inspired by Hailey’s positive attitude?  Are you or someone you love affected by JRA?  Join Hailey on Team A.I.M. High.

Steve Cardin – Team Proud Ozma

Steve Cardin of Granite Falls, Washington joined us for The 2011 Amgen People’s Coast Classic and returns as a 2012 honoree.  Steve was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) in early 2009 which is a family of diseases marked by defective collagen synthesis throughout the body.  In Steve’s case, the cartilage in his joints is significantly weaker and he lives with moderate to severe osteoarthritis.

Steve was diagnosed with EDS recently, but looks back to an entire lifetime ofsymptoms.  He woke up one morning, at the age of 14, with a dislocated jaw.  This was a classic symptom of hypermobility EDS, but a correct diagnosis came more than 20 years later.

Like many patients facing incurable chronic diseases, Steve’s first response was one of fear and doubt.  Shortly thereafter, he became active in EDS support groups and forums, including leading a group that has since grown to over 45 patients.  He also became a very vocal representative of EDS patients and was instrumental in making May “EDS Awareness Month” in Washington State.

Steve became a cyclist in March of 2011.  Since then, he’s lost 35 pounds, dramatically reducing mechanical wear and tear on his body.  Every pound lost results in four pounds of pressure less on the knees.  Cycling is a low-impact sport and helps strengthen the muscle groups that stabilize joints, directly counteracting the symptoms of EDS.

Steve’s family is also affected by arthritis.  EDS is a hereditary disease and his two children both show symptoms.  He also has loved ones affected by Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia.

Are you and/or your loved ones affected by arthritis?  Join Steve’s Team Proud Ozma and come ride the Oregon Coast to support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to improve the lives through prevention, control, and cure.

Myth No. 1: Arthritis is an old-person’s disease

While the incidence of arthritis is much higher in older populations, there are millions of juveniles and young adults who live with auto-immune versions of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, etc. CDC estimates show that juvenile arthritis affects one in every 250 children. There are currently no cures for these diseases. Scientists have an insufficient understanding of their causes, genetic or otherwise.

Even in the context of studying older populations, the questions still remain. Why are some people more prone to degenerative forms of arthritis than others? Can joint damage be significantly stopped or reversed?

Myth No. 2: Nothing can be done about arthritis pain

You may think that little can be done to help your arthritis, but this is not true. Some improvement in the pain and loss of function is possible in almost everyone with arthritis. Furthermore, the disease process that may lead to joint destructions can be controlled effectively in most people – particularly those with rheumatoid arthritis. More can be done today to ease the pain of arthritis and to slow joint destruction than ever before.

Many people with serious types of arthritis, which were severely disabling as recently as a generation ago, are now leading full and productive lives, thanks in part to many developments, including new drugs and treatments, exercise programs, surgeries and self-management. As a person with arthritis, your future is full of possibilities that were only a dream 25 years ago.

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