Let's Move Together
Let’s Move Together!
8th Annual MetroWest Arthritis Walk
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Natick Town Common
My daughter, Alyssa, 15, was diagnosed two and a half years ago with psoriatic arthritis, which is a type of autoimmune arthritis similar to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Alyssa had to give up her pursuit of dance as a professional career goal. She has had to deal with significant pain and inflammation and fatigue. It is not easy being a teenager with arthritis, and Alyssa faces her good days as a given and her bad days with acceptance and grace.
Recently, we met a little girl half her age who has the same disease. Alyssa has been glad to become her friend to help her deal and to show her just how great you can be – even when you have arthritis.
Now, thanks to a fabulous team in the Rheumatology Program at Childrens’ Hospital Boston, Alyssa's arthritis is under control with the help of medication and therapeutic exercise.
This year, Alyssa has put together a team for the Annual Arthritis Walk, the main fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. She is not the only member of my family to have arthritis – my mom has severe osteoarthritis, and my dad suffered from RA for most of his adult life – but she is by far the youngest.
We all know someone who has arthritis, right? But we were amazed to learn that 1-in-300 kids has some form of arthritis. That’s more kids with arthritis than diabetes. And the incidence is on the rise. The number of people with arthritis continues to increase. It can be a debilitating and devastating disease. We need cures, not just painkillers.
Please consider becoming a part of the Arthritis Walk. Our family is walking in the Natick event on May 16th, but there are others throughout the state throughout the year. You can find Alyssa’s team here: http://metrowestarthritiswalk.kintera.org/alyssa
Or for more general information on the walk and on arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation, please visit:
http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-walk.php
http://www.arthritis.org/index.php
or feel free to contact me!
Thank you!
Anita Ballesteros
anitaLB@comcast.net
(508) 429-9156