Diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when he was 4 years old, Hayden, now 6, is the Houston walk hero, setting an example for others to follow as he walks to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.
Fifty million Americans struggle with arthritis every day, including more than 300,000 children. In Houston, nearly one million people suffer with the painful disease, including 5,000 children. The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. It is the only private non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the more than 100 types of arthritis.
Why is arthritis a serious public health for our community?
• It affects one in five adults or about 970,000 Houstonians.
• It is the most common cause of disability, limiting the activities of 42% of the Houstonians affected, or 407,000 people.
• It is a highly misunderstood disease and the biggest misnomer is that it is an old person’s disease, an inevitable part of aging.
• It is highly prevalent and on the rise—by 2030, an estimated 67 million people in the U.S. are projected to have arthritis including 1.3 million Houstonians.
• Arthritis plays a pivotal role with other major diseases like diabetes and heart disease, complicating their treatment.
• Arthritis carries a staggering price tag of at least $128 billion annually in medical expenses, lost earnings and reduced productivity. In Houston, we estimate the cost to be at least $2.5 billion.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends just 30 minutes of walking a day. Physical activity, including stretching and strengthening, is crucial to improving joint pain and mobility and reducing the fatigue often associated with the disability
Dr. Melvyn Harrington, Orthopedic Surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine states, “Arthritis is common, costly and painful, and people think that there is nothing you can do about it.” Early detection can help with treatment and help keep arthritis at bay.
Houston Area Arthritis Walk Raising Funds for the Arthritis Foundation
WHEN: Saturday, June 1, Quillian Center; 10570 Westpark Drive
Registration begins at 7 a.m. Walk begins at 8 a.m.
: For information. www.houstonarthritiswalk.org
Team registration: sstricker@arthritis.org. Call 713-942-9063
