Almost one third of our community suffers from arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation is therefore encouraging the Auburn community to come together to raise funds for arthritis research, community programs and advocacy initiatives at this weekend's Walk for Arthritis.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
One family, participating in the Walk for Arthritis again this year, will now be able to walk in their hometown. This group of walkers includes: front row: Marjorie Parker (with dog Torre), Griffin Dunn, Tracy Dunn and Steve Dunn. Second row: Kelly Casier, Ashley Ward, Kate Hoadley. Third Row: Nancy Casier, Judy Parker and Sue Ward. Fourth row: Ted Parker and Mike Parker. All will take part in Saturday's walk held at Hoopes Park.
One family, participating in the Walk for Arthritis again this year, will now be able to walk in their hometown. This group of walkers includes: front row: Marjorie Parker (with dog Torre), Griffin Dunn, Tracy Dunn and Steve Dunn. Second row: Kelly Casier, Ashley Ward, Kate Hoadley. Third Row: Nancy Casier, Judy Parker and Sue Ward. Fourth row: Ted Parker and Mike Parker. All will take part in Saturday's walk held at Hoopes Park.
The prevalence of arthritis is rapidly increasing; the number of people living with chronic joint problems has nearly tripled since 1998. Now affecting roughly 70 million people, arthritis is one of the nation's most prevalent chronic health problems.
Unfortunately, experts do not anticipate that this trend will end soon. According to Norman Krause, M.D. and orthopedic surgeon at Auburn Memorial Hospital, the number of people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions is expected to rise as the baby boom generation ages.
Even though arthritis is such a widespread problem, many people mistakenly believe that there are no available treatments. According to the Arthritis Foundation, half of Americans with arthritis don't think that anything can be done to help them.
According to Krause, however, this is simply not true. Although there is no known cause for arthritis, people with the disease do not need to live with aching joints.
“There are interventions to prevent or reduce arthritis-related pain and disability,” Krause said. “These interventions include early diagnosis, weight control, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy and joint replacement when appropriate.”
To help make these treatments more available to the millions of people suffering from this disease, the Arthritis Foundation holds a nationwide walking event. An annual tradition, the Arthritis Walk raises critical funds to help prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases.
“May is arthritis awareness month,” said Marjorie Parker, the special events manger of the Syracuse office of the Arthritis Foundation, “so that's when all of the walks are held across the whole country. What we try to do is choose new areas each year to spread awareness about arthritis and to raise money, so that hopefully we can bring some programs into those communities. This year we are having the first Arthritis Walk in Auburn.”
Parker was inspired to organize the new event in Auburn by her mother, who has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 25 years.
“Living with somebody whom I love that has this disease has been the biggest influence of all,” Parker said. “That's why I decided to hold a brand new event in Auburn this year. I want to encourage our community to take part in an event that supports people with the number one disability in America, and also supports people that live right here in Cayuga County.”
Parker specifically chose to hold the walk in Auburn because it is her family's hometown.
“I'm from Auburn,” she said, “so I know a lot of people here. Last year, my whole family went to Oswego to walk for my mom. This year we're going to get to do the same thing in Auburn.”
The walk will take place on Saturday, at Hoopes Park. Registration is free, and the walk is open to anyone.
“There's a three-mile and a one-mile walk,” Parker explained. “The shorter distance is really for people who have arthritis if they're able to walk, while the three-mile option is for people who are supporting someone who has arthritis.”
Parker said that participants can fundraise individually or in teams.
“You have the registration form and you take donations from people, whether they are $3, $10 or whatever. There's no specific amount that you need to raise, but there are incentives. For example, if you raise $50, you get a T-shirt.”
Participants in the walk can look forward to a fun-filled day. In addition to prizes and giveaways, they will be treated to entertainment by bluegrass band John Reilly's Millennium Territory Orchestra.
Parker said that she hopes people enjoy the walk and that it will also demonstrate how arthritis affects people right here in our community.
“There are a lot of these walks in bigger communities like Syracuse,” she said, “but there are many people in Auburn who have arthritis, too. I want people to know that it's everywhere, even in smaller communities. I ran a marathon five
Erika Street
Special to The Citizen
Almost one third of our community suffers from arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation is therefore encouraging the Auburn community to come together to raise funds for arthritis research, community programs and advocacy initiatives at this weekend's Walk for Arthritis.
The prevalence of arthritis is rapidly increasing; the number of people living with chronic joint problems has nearly tripled since 1998. Now affecting roughly 70 million people, arthritis is one of the nation's most prevalent chronic health problems.
Unfortunately, experts do not anticipate that this trend will end soon. According to Norman Krause, M.D. and orthopedic surgeon at Auburn Memorial Hospital, the number of people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions is expected to rise as the baby boom generation ages.
Even though arthritis is such a widespread problem, many people mistakenly believe that there are no available treatments. According to the Arthritis Foundation, half of Americans with arthritis don't think that anything can be done to help them.
According to Krause, however, this is simply not true. Although there is no known cause for arthritis, people with the disease do not need to live with aching joints.
“There are interventions to prevent or reduce arthritis-related pain and disability,” Krause said. “These interventions include early diagnosis, weight control, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy and joint replacement when appropriate.”
To help make these treatments more available to the millions of people suffering from this disease, the Arthritis Foundation holds a nationwide walking event. An annual tradition, the Arthritis Walk raises critical funds to help prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases.
“May is arthritis awareness month,” said Marjorie Parker, the special events manger of the Syracuse office of the Arthritis Foundation, “so that's when all of the walks are held across the whole country. What we try to do is choose new areas each year to spread awareness about arthritis and to raise money, so that hopefully we can bring some programs into those communities. This year we are having the first Arthritis Walk in Auburn.”
Parker was inspired to organize the new event in Auburn by her mother, who has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 25 years.
“Living with somebody whom I love that has this disease has been the biggest influence of all,” Parker said. “That's why I decided to hold a brand new event in Auburn this year. I want to encourage our community to take part in an event that supports people with the number one disability in America, and also supports people that live right here in Cayuga County.”
Parker specifically chose to hold the walk in Auburn because it is her family's hometown.
“I'm from Auburn,” she said, “so I know a lot of people here. Last year, my whole family went to Oswego to walk for my mom. This year we're going to get to do the same thing in Auburn.”
The walk will take place on Saturday, at Hoopes Park. Registration is free, and the walk is open to anyone.
“There's a three-mile and a one-mile walk,” Parker explained. “The shorter distance is really for people who have arthritis if they're able to walk, while the three-mile option is for people who are supporting someone who has arthritis.”
Parker said that participants can fundraise individually or in teams.
“You have the registration form and you take donations from people, whether they are $3, $10 or whatever. There's no specific amount that you need to raise, but there are incentives. For example, if you raise $50, you get a T-shirt.”
Participants in the walk can look forward to a fun-filled day. In addition to prizes and giveaways, they will be treated to entertainment by bluegrass band John Reilly's Millennium Territory Orchestra.
Parker said that she hopes people enjoy the walk and that it will also demonstrate how arthritis affects people right here in our community.
“There are a lot of these walks in bigger communities like Syracuse,” she said, “but there are many people in Auburn who have arthritis, too. I want people to know that it's everywhere, even in smaller communities. I ran a marathon five
years ago for a little boy from Auburn who has arthritis, so I know that there's the need here.”
The money raised at the walk will therefore go specifically to community programs in Auburn.
“We don't have any sanctioned programs in Auburn,” Parker said, “so that's why I wanted to bring the walk here. A lot of people have problems with transportation, and if the closest program is 50 miles away, they're not going to be able to utilize it.”
Although the Arthritis Foundation will decide which programs to start in Auburn according to need, possible initiatives include aquatics programs, land-based exercise programs and self-help support groups.
According to Krause, exercise programs are very beneficial.
“Regular exercise slows the loss of muscle mass, strengthens the bones and reduces joint and muscle pain,” he explained.
Parker hopes that the walk in Auburn will not only raise money for much-needed arthritis programs, but will educate people about the disease.
“There's going to be a lot of information there, so I hope that people get some education out of it,” she said. “People look at a lot of the other walks that are out there for heart disease, which is the number one cause of death, and cancer which is number two, and they don't realize that arthritis is the number one cause of disability. Even though you don't see a lot of deaths, arthritis affects a great deal of people and causes a lot of pain and suffering.”
Krause agreed, saying that another common misconception about arthritis is that it is a disease of the elderly.
“More than half of the people affected by arthritis are under age 65,” he said. “Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, even children.”
Unfortunately, experts do not anticipate that this trend will end soon. According to Norman Krause, M.D. and orthopedic surgeon at Auburn Memorial Hospital, the number of people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions is expected to rise as the baby boom generation ages.
Even though arthritis is such a widespread problem, many people mistakenly believe that there are no available treatments. According to the Arthritis Foundation, half of Americans with arthritis don't think that anything can be done to help them.
According to Krause, however, this is simply not true. Although there is no known cause for arthritis, people with the disease do not need to live with aching joints.
“There are interventions to prevent or reduce arthritis-related pain and disability,” Krause said. “These interventions include early diagnosis, weight control, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy and joint replacement when appropriate.”
To help make these treatments more available to the millions of people suffering from this disease, the Arthritis Foundation holds a nationwide walking event. An annual tradition, the Arthritis Walk raises critical funds to help prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases.
“May is arthritis awareness month,” said Marjorie Parker, the special events manger of the Syracuse office of the Arthritis Foundation, “so that's when all of the walks are held across the whole country. What we try to do is choose new areas each year to spread awareness about arthritis and to raise money, so that hopefully we can bring some programs into those communities. This year we are having the first Arthritis Walk in Auburn.”
Parker was inspired to organize the new event in Auburn by her mother, who has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 25 years.
“Living with somebody whom I love that has this disease has been the biggest influence of all,” Parker said. “That's why I decided to hold a brand new event in Auburn this year. I want to encourage our community to take part in an event that supports people with the number one disability in America, and also supports people that live right here in Cayuga County.”
Parker specifically chose to hold the walk in Auburn because it is her family's hometown.
“I'm from Auburn,” she said, “so I know a lot of people here. Last year, my whole family went to Oswego to walk for my mom. This year we're going to get to do the same thing in Auburn.”
The walk will take place on Saturday, at Hoopes Park. Registration is free, and the walk is open to anyone.
“There's a three-mile and a one-mile walk,” Parker explained. “The shorter distance is really for people who have arthritis if they're able to walk, while the three-mile option is for people who are supporting someone who has arthritis.”
Parker said that participants can fundraise individually or in teams.
“You have the registration form and you take donations from people, whether they are $3, $10 or whatever. There's no specific amount that you need to raise, but there are incentives. For example, if you raise $50, you get a T-shirt.”
Participants in the walk can look forward to a fun-filled day. In addition to prizes and giveaways, they will be treated to entertainment by bluegrass band John Reilly's Millennium Territory Orchestra.
Parker said that she hopes people enjoy the walk and that it will also demonstrate how arthritis affects people right here in our community.
“There are a lot of these walks in bigger communities like Syracuse,” she said, “but there are many people in Auburn who have arthritis, too. I want people to know that it's everywhere, even in smaller communities. I ran a marathon five
Erika Street
Special to The Citizen
Almost one third of our community suffers from arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation is therefore encouraging the Auburn community to come together to raise funds for arthritis research, community programs and advocacy initiatives at this weekend's Walk for Arthritis.
The prevalence of arthritis is rapidly increasing; the number of people living with chronic joint problems has nearly tripled since 1998. Now affecting roughly 70 million people, arthritis is one of the nation's most prevalent chronic health problems.
Unfortunately, experts do not anticipate that this trend will end soon. According to Norman Krause, M.D. and orthopedic surgeon at Auburn Memorial Hospital, the number of people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions is expected to rise as the baby boom generation ages.
Even though arthritis is such a widespread problem, many people mistakenly believe that there are no available treatments. According to the Arthritis Foundation, half of Americans with arthritis don't think that anything can be done to help them.
According to Krause, however, this is simply not true. Although there is no known cause for arthritis, people with the disease do not need to live with aching joints.
“There are interventions to prevent or reduce arthritis-related pain and disability,” Krause said. “These interventions include early diagnosis, weight control, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy and joint replacement when appropriate.”
To help make these treatments more available to the millions of people suffering from this disease, the Arthritis Foundation holds a nationwide walking event. An annual tradition, the Arthritis Walk raises critical funds to help prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases.
“May is arthritis awareness month,” said Marjorie Parker, the special events manger of the Syracuse office of the Arthritis Foundation, “so that's when all of the walks are held across the whole country. What we try to do is choose new areas each year to spread awareness about arthritis and to raise money, so that hopefully we can bring some programs into those communities. This year we are having the first Arthritis Walk in Auburn.”
Parker was inspired to organize the new event in Auburn by her mother, who has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 25 years.
“Living with somebody whom I love that has this disease has been the biggest influence of all,” Parker said. “That's why I decided to hold a brand new event in Auburn this year. I want to encourage our community to take part in an event that supports people with the number one disability in America, and also supports people that live right here in Cayuga County.”
Parker specifically chose to hold the walk in Auburn because it is her family's hometown.
“I'm from Auburn,” she said, “so I know a lot of people here. Last year, my whole family went to Oswego to walk for my mom. This year we're going to get to do the same thing in Auburn.”
The walk will take place on Saturday, at Hoopes Park. Registration is free, and the walk is open to anyone.
“There's a three-mile and a one-mile walk,” Parker explained. “The shorter distance is really for people who have arthritis if they're able to walk, while the three-mile option is for people who are supporting someone who has arthritis.”
Parker said that participants can fundraise individually or in teams.
“You have the registration form and you take donations from people, whether they are $3, $10 or whatever. There's no specific amount that you need to raise, but there are incentives. For example, if you raise $50, you get a T-shirt.”
Participants in the walk can look forward to a fun-filled day. In addition to prizes and giveaways, they will be treated to entertainment by bluegrass band John Reilly's Millennium Territory Orchestra.
Parker said that she hopes people enjoy the walk and that it will also demonstrate how arthritis affects people right here in our community.
“There are a lot of these walks in bigger communities like Syracuse,” she said, “but there are many people in Auburn who have arthritis, too. I want people to know that it's everywhere, even in smaller communities. I ran a marathon five
years ago for a little boy from Auburn who has arthritis, so I know that there's the need here.”
The money raised at the walk will therefore go specifically to community programs in Auburn.
“We don't have any sanctioned programs in Auburn,” Parker said, “so that's why I wanted to bring the walk here. A lot of people have problems with transportation, and if the closest program is 50 miles away, they're not going to be able to utilize it.”
Although the Arthritis Foundation will decide which programs to start in Auburn according to need, possible initiatives include aquatics programs, land-based exercise programs and self-help support groups.
According to Krause, exercise programs are very beneficial.
“Regular exercise slows the loss of muscle mass, strengthens the bones and reduces joint and muscle pain,” he explained.
Parker hopes that the walk in Auburn will not only raise money for much-needed arthritis programs, but will educate people about the disease.
“There's going to be a lot of information there, so I hope that people get some education out of it,” she said. “People look at a lot of the other walks that are out there for heart disease, which is the number one cause of death, and cancer which is number two, and they don't realize that arthritis is the number one cause of disability. Even though you don't see a lot of deaths, arthritis affects a great deal of people and causes a lot of pain and suffering.”
Krause agreed, saying that another common misconception about arthritis is that it is a disease of the elderly.
“More than half of the people affected by arthritis are under age 65,” he said. “Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, even children.”
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