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Arthritis walk is Saturday, May 21
The second annual "Arthritis Walk" will be held on Saturday, May 21, at West Florida Hospital. In addition to raising funds to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, the aim of this nationwide event is to raise awareness about the effects of arthritis, the nation’s number one cause of disability. Registration for the event will begin at 7:30a.m. at HealthWorks, located adjacent to West Florida Hospital at 2120 Johnson Avenue, and the walk will commence at 8:30a.m. To accommodate all fitness levels, walkers may choose the fully accessible one-mile walk or a 5K walk (3.2 miles).
Walkers will walk as teams with a minimum of five people per team. A Team Captain will recruit members and lead the team by establishing fundraising goals, supplying registration and donation forms, and inspiring and motivating the team to meet their goals.
Each participant who collects a minimum of $100 in pledges will receive their choice of an Arthritis Walk T-shirt or cap. Teams compete for possession of the Traveling Trophy by raising the most money; currently Triangle of Technology has possession.
Arthritis affects one in three adults and approximately 300,000 children in the United States. It dramatically impacts people’s lives, limiting their ability to work and care for themselves and their families, at a cost of nearly $125 billion annually to the nation’s economy. Worse yet, an overweight, inactive and aging population is contributing to the rapid increase in arthritis, putting a greater strain on an already overburdened health care system in which arthritis accounts for 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospital visits each year.
Walkers of all ages are encouraged to join the fight against arthritis by forming teams and participating in the walk on May 21. To register or for more information, contact the Arthritis Foundation at (850) 471-1541 or tmepham@arthritis.org or visit www.arthritis.org
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