850 Participants Come Together to Fight the Nation’s Leading Cause of Disability
Area residents raised more than $110,000 to fight and cure arthritis by participating in the North Texas Walk to Cure Arthritis on May 9, 2015. Participants and teams rallied together at Arlington’s Globe Life Park, braving wet weather, to show their support and be the voice of people living with the nation’s leading cause of disability.
Funds raised through Walk to Cure Arthritis events across the nation will support Arthritis Foundation programs, research and advocacy initiatives to help prevent, control and find a cure for this crippling disease.
“This is the second year that the Arthritis Foundation has held the Walk to Cure Arthritis North Texas at Globe Life Park,” says Arthritis Foundation South Central Region CEO Susan Carter. “This is such a great venue to raise awareness while raising critically needed dollars to fund local programs and research to find a cure and end the pain of arthritis for those who suffer from this debilitating disease in North Texas.”
The event featured local honorees who shared their inspirational stories about their personal battles with arthritis. By sharing these experiences, Military Honoree, Master Sergeant Bridget Sonsel, and Youth Honoree, Emma Calhoun, were able to put a face on arthritis and remind participants arthritis doesn’t discriminate by age, gender, race, or social economic status – it affects all populations, particularly our nation’s veterans. To learn more about their stories or to make a donation in their honor, visit www.walktocurearthritisnorthtx.org. Fundraising will remain open through August 2015.
Arthritis is a crippling disease that costs the U.S. economy $156 billion dollars a year, and it is a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes. The disease impacts more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children – or approximately 22 percent of the United States population. In Texas alone, there are 3.6 million adults and 25,000 children suffering from arthritis.
Walk to Cure Arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation’s national signature event, is nationally presented by Amgen, Massage Envy Spa and Aleve. Local corporate supporters of the North Texas Walk include: Local Presenting Sponsor, Pollock, as well as local sponsors Parker University, Bristol-Myers Squibb and others.
About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is the largest and most trusted nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs and challenges of those living with arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. Since 1948, the Foundation has remained committed to leading groundbreaking research for better treatments and a cure; fighting for patients’ access to affordable and effective health care; and providing trusted information and resources to the more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children living with the disease. To learn more about the life-changing work of the Arthritis Foundation in Texas, visit www.arthritis.org/Texas or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.