Walk To Fight Arthritis: Sign-Up Now for the May 6 Event

The Arthritis Foundation is seeking walkers and teams to participate in the Arthritis Walk on Saturday, May 6 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA.

Fredericksburg, VA (PRWEB) April 17, 2006 -- The Arthritis Foundation is calling for people to take action against arthritis by participating in the 2006 Arthritis Walk. The annual nationwide event kicks off in May during national Arthritis Month, raising funds and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability. The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. To get involved or form a walk team, visit http://www.arthritiswalkfredericksburg.kintera.org or call 540-429-2239.

Arthritis or chronic joint symptoms are more widespread than imagined, affecting 66 million Americans, or one out of three adults and approximately 300,000 children. Here in Virginia, arthritis affects more than 2.1 million people.

"The Arthritis Foundation is here to help people with arthritis take a more active role in managing their disease. Participating in the Arthritis Walk can be a first step toward the healthy lifestyle that may help prevent or control arthritis," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation.

The Arthritis Walk takes place in communities nationwide each May in conjunction with National Arthritis Month. There are more than 400 local Arthritis Walks, each featuring a three-mile and one-mile course. Participants can walk for a friend or a family member with arthritis, while people with arthritis wear blue hats to signify they are walking to take control of their arthritis.

Sam Lincoln is the 2006 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk Junior Hero. Sam is five years old. He has been living with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis for four years now. Sam is an amazing child. This disease may have weakened his muscles and joints, but it has strengthened his determination and willpower. Sam is special and not just because he endures this "grown up" disease, but because he loves life and appreciates all aspects of it.

In 2005, more than 75,000 walkers participated and helped raise money to directly support critical arthritis research, health education and government advocacy efforts to help people take greater control of arthritis.

The national presenting sponsor for the Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Walk is Aleve®, marketed by Bayer Consumer Care. Other national sponsors include Nature Made® TripleFlex™, Pfizer Animal Health Rimadyl and Arthritis Today magazine.

The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, not-for-profit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's number one cause of disability. For more information on arthritis, to volunteer or to form an Arthritis Walk team, visit http://www.arthritis.org or call 540-429-2239.

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