Walk to Cure Arthritis Comes to Philadelphia, Pa.

PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Help find a cure by participating in and fundraising for the 2014 Walk to Cure Arthritis on May 17 at FDR Park located at 20 Pattison Avenue in Philadelphia. Formerly Arthritis Walk, Walk to Cure Arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation's signature, national fundraising event to prevent, control and cure the nation's leading cause of disability.

The Philadelphia Walk to Cure Arthritis will feature local honorees who will share their inspirational stories about their battles with arthritis. Michelle Ottey knew something was wrong when her hands became so swollen that it hurt to bend her fingers, and at only 26 years old, Ottey was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Her Arthritis Walk team, Team Monkey, has been participating in the Walk since 2009. Last year was the first year that Ottey was able to complete the walk without significant pain. Dr. Peter A. Merkel is the Chief of Rheumatology and a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an internationally recognized expert in vasculitis and scleroderma, two diseases he has studied for over 20 years, and is an author on over 170 scientific publications. Dr. Merkel is active within patient advocacy organizations and is a strong supporter of patient empowerment for their own health and patient engagement in research.

Arthritis is a crippling disease that impacts more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children – or approximately 22 percent of the United States population. The disease costs the U.S. economy $128 billion dollars a year, and is a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

Funds raised through the Philadelphia Walk to Cure Arthritis will go toward programs, research and advocacy initiatives to help people today while finding a cure for tomorrow.

"Arthritis is costly, painful and debilitating, and makes a significant impact in the lives of people in our community," says Leadership Council member and Walk Chair Ryan Becker. "By participating in and raising funds for Philadelphia Walk to Cure Arthritis, you will help us reach our goal of raising $250,000 to remove the burden of arthritis entirely by bringing us closer to a cure."

To learn more and register for the Philadelphia Walk to Cure Arthritis, visit http://www.walktocurearthritis.philly.kintera.org or contact Cindy Liberatore at [email protected], 267-519-6050. To learn more about the fight to cure arthritis, visit http://www.arthritis.org.  The walk is nationally presented by Amgen with additional support from Massage Envy Spa.

About the Arthritis Foundation
Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.

Contact:
Claibourne Smith
[email protected] 
954-893-9150

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SOURCE Arthritis Foundation