Renee Cafaro of New York City Named National Adult Honoree for 2015 Walk to Cure Arthritis

NEW YORK, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Renee Cafaro of New York City has been named the National Adult Honoree of the 2015 Walk to Cure Arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation's signature event held nationwide to raise awareness about arthritis and the need to discover a cure.

Cafaro, who is 31 years old, began experiencing serious pain when she was 11. It took almost 10 years for her to receive a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia, with a secondary diagnosis of seronegative arthritis of the tendons.  Finally having a diagnosis was a relief for Renee and motivated her to speak out about her disease for others.

This spring, Renee will lead tens of thousands of participants in Walks across the country to highlight the prevalence of arthritis among people of all ages and the need for research to discover better treatments and a cure. On Saturday, May 16, she will lead walkers across the Brooklyn Bridge at the New York City Walk to Cure Arthritis.

"Renee has been a champion for people living with arthritis and we are thrilled to have her as our National Adult Honoree," said Ingrid Montecino, President and CEO, Arthritis Northeast Region. "Her passion and commitment to heightening awareness about arthritis will help adults and children living with the disease make better strides toward treating and managing their condition," she said.

"I am honored to lend a voice to the many others like me who didn't think it was possible to have arthritis at such a young age," said Renee. "Arthritis is the nation's number one cause of disability. By raising awareness, we can help people understand the symptoms and get the treatment and support they need."

Arthritis is a painful and often debilitating disease that impacts more than 50 million adults, or roughly one in five adults of all ages. Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65, including 300,000 children. In New York, there are 3.6 million adults and 18,400 kids living with arthritis.

To learn more about Walk to Cure Arthritis events in New York and around the country, visit www.walktocurearthritis.org.

The Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org) is focused on finding a cure and championing the fight against arthritis through information, advocacy, scientific research and community.

Contact: Luci de Haan, [email protected]
212-984-8724

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150430/212954

SOURCE Arthritis Foundation

Related Links

http://www.arthritis.org/new-york