More than 700 walkers from across Central Indiana, including up to 200 dogs and their owners, will use their feet on Saturday, June 7, as they team up to raise awareness and funds to fight arthritis. Arthritis is a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects 1.4 million Hoosiers, including more than 6,000 children. A Bow-Wow Beauty contest for dogs also is part of the festivities.

The 2008 Indianapolis Arthritis Walk takes place along the White River Canal, starting at the NCAA Hall of Champions. The self-paced walks feature one-mile and three-mile options. Event schedule:
7:30 a.m Registration and pre-walk festivities
9:00 a.m. Walk begins
9:10 a.m. Dog walk

“The walk raises money to help fight the pain of arthritis and to fund desperately needed arthritis research,” say Pat Milner, this year’s walk chair. “We want to find a cure.”

This year’s walk honorees include five-year-old Zoe Caban of Indianapolis, who has lived with the pain of polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for more than half her young life. She now manages her pain with weekly injections of a drug commonly used in cancer patients. According to Zoe’s mother, Crissy. “Her New Year’s resolution is to be a big girl and sit still during her shots. She’s brave. She fights it.”

The Indiana Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation raises money for arthritis research and provides services for those with arthritis, including nearly 100 programs across Indiana. The chapter has offices in South Bend, Evansville, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis.

ARTHRITS WALK
The Arthritis Walk is one of the foundation’s largest annual fundraising events. This year’s goal is $60,000. Money raised from the walk goes to preventing, controlling and curing arthritis and related diseases.

There is no cost to participate in the dog walk, walk, or Bow Wow Beauty Contest. Anyone raising more than $100 receives a free t-shirt. It’s easy to raise money by asking friends, families, co-workers, etc. Each participate can set up a web page to solicit gifts through the Arthritis Foundation.

For the one in five Americans with arthritis, the pain and inflammation associated with this chronic condition can limit their everyday activities. But most know that walking can help keep them physically fit and maintain their joint flexibility. That’s why you’ll see dozens of people with arthritis taking part in this year’s event. They’ll be wearing blue hats to signify their efforts to take control of their health. For more information about the dog walk or walk or to register, log on www.indiana.arthritis.org.

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