| Why am I Running a Marathon? (A.K.A. How has Arthritis Affected My Life?) |
| When I was 23, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnosis explained the recent difficulties I had noticed: opening doors (turning the knob was too difficult), opening jars (I coudn't maintain a grip), and the way the fingers on my hands would on occasion freeze up and require injections to bend properly. The first few steps I took in the morning were the hardest for me, as my feet seemed to want to reject any pressure placed on them. I hid my hands in photographs because I was self-conscious about the abnormal size of my joints. Like many others, I thought arthritis was an "old person's" disease and didn't understand, why me? FACT: 43 million Americans currently suffer from arthritis, or one out of every 6 people. This includes approximately 300,000 children. I feel fortunate that today, I have very few signs of arthritic disease. This is the result of the excellent medical care I have received, made possible through research which is supported by the Arthritis Foundation. I owe a lot to advocates at the Arthritis Foundation, who strive to keep arthritis at the top of our nation's health agenda, supporting research on new drugs, treatments, and prevention strategies which have contributed to my well-being. Unfortunately, most arthritis sufferers are not as lucky as me, and as a tribute, I plan to run 26.2 miles to the end of my first marathon, while striving to raise $6,000 to support the Arthritis Foundation's agenda of prevention, treatment, advocacy and research of arthritic diseases. FACT: Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. The Arthritis Foundation devotes more than 11 million dollars annually to research and is leading the way to more successful treatments. |