More than 500 walkers will join the 2016 Walk to Cure Arthritis on June 4 at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. As Chamber member Arthritis Foundation’s signature, national fundraising event, the Walk to Cure Arthritis brings together communities to fight arthritis – the nation’s leading cause of disability.
In the United States, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children live with arthritis. Costing the U.S. economy $156 billion dollars a year, arthritis affects one in five Americans and causes more activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes. The Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis will help those living with arthritis by supporting programs, research and advocacy initiatives as well as fund crucial research aimed at finding a cure for the disease.
At the walk, local honorees Amanda Barnes and Krista Bauman will share their inspiring stories about living with arthritis. Amanda, diagnosed at only five years old, was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Krista was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease in 2011 and has a combination of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma.
“I want to follow my dreams and find a cure for arthritis. I want to help other kids going through the same thing as me,” says youth honoree Amanda Barnes.
“My hopes for the future are to help find a cure. Many people do not realize there are many forms of arthritis and that people of all ages are affected. I joined the Walk to Cure Arthritis to help spread awareness,” says adult honoree Krista Bauman.
The Arthritis Foundation hopes to reach $116 thousand at this year’s walk.
To register for the Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis or to learn more about the event, visit www.walktocurearthritis.org/chicago or contact Brian VanAcker at 312-880-4735.