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Chicago Walks to Raise Funds to Cure Arthritis

Walking for a cure for arthritis
Walking for a cure for arthritis

Walk to Cure Arthritis Comes to Chicago
Arthritis Foundation Raises Funds for a Cure in the Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis
 


Kill two birds with one stone when you walk to help find a cure  for arthritis by participating in and fundraising for the 2015 Walk to Cure Arthritis June 6, 2015 at Montrose Beach. You can get your exercise on and raise money at the same time. Yes you get to contribute towards making a huge difference in the quality of life for many. 

There are so many reasons  to walk these days and so you have to choose.  The Walk to Cure Arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation’s signature, national fundraising event to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. Walking to raise money for this very common disease that effects so many people is equally important as walking for cancer or any other life threatening disease. Arthritis can be crippling at its worse and restrictive and painful in the least. Either way the discomfort it causes those who suffer with it is not a way to live life comfortably.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the top 10 causes of death for African Americans as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, unintentional injuries, kidney diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, homicide, septicemia (preventing health care associated infections) and Alzheimer’s disease.

But the CDC also points out that African Americans are affected more by arthritis. That affects the quality of people’s lives particularly as they get older. The CDC notes that blacks are just as likely to be diagnosed with arthritis as whites are. However, African Americans are:

▪ 18 percent more likely to experience activity limitations because of arthritis.

▪ 44 percent more likely to have arthritis-caused work limitations.

▪ 66 percent more likely to suffer severe joint pain because of arthritis.

But people can do a lot to manage the chronic disease. The CDC recommends:

▪ Two hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. That’s 30 minutes a day for five days a week. It could include brisk walking, cycling, swimming, water aerobics, gardening, group exercise classes or dancing.

▪ Or an hour, 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week. That’s 15 minutes a day for five days a week. This could include calisthenics, weight training or working with resistance bands. These can be done at home, in an exercise class or at a fitness center.

▪ Or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity.

People should add muscle strengthening exercises on two or more days a week. Don’t forget balance exercises on three days a week to reduce any risk of falling.

Balance exercises could include walking backward, standing on one foot and tai chi.

Arthritis is a debilitating  disease that impacts more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children – or approximately 22 percent of the United States population. The disease costs the U.S. economy $128 billion dollars a year, and it is a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.

Funds raised through the Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis will go toward programs, research, and advocacy initiatives to help people today, while finding a cure for tomorrow.

“Arthritis is costly, painful and debilitating, and makes a significant impact in the lives of people in your community,” says region CEO Tom Fite. “By participating in and raising funds for Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis, you will help us reach our goal of raising $25,000 to remove the burden of arthritis entirely by bringing us closer to a cure.”

 

To learn more, and register for the Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis, visit https://www.arthritis.org/get-involved/walk-to-cure-arthritis/ or contact Brian VanAcker at (312) 880-4735. To learn more about the fight to cure arthritis, visit https://www.arthritiswalk.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is the largest and most trusted nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs and challenges of those living with arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. Since 1948, the Foundation has remained committed to leading groundbreaking research for better treatments and a cure; fighting for patients’ access to affordable and effective health care; and providing trusted information and resources to the more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children living with the disease.

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