Mobile Arthritis Walk & Family Fun Day is April 24 at Camp Grace

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Mobile Arthritis Walk and Family Fun Day is April 24 at Camp Grace

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The seventh annual Mobile Arthritis Walk and Family Fun Day, the Arthritis

Foundation's key fundraiser along the Gulf Coast, will take place April 24

at Camp Grace, 11081 Wanda Drive, at 9 a.m.

s can choose from a 1-mile or 3-mile route, or can participate in a

Tai Chi demonstration if they cannot complete the walk.

" You may be surprised at the faces of this year's Mobile Arthritis Walk.

They are very different in age and in size, but share a common bond that one

would never know by looking at them, " said Kellie Myers, Arthritis

Foundation Gulf Coast director. " Last year was the first year we had the

walk at Camp Grace, and we raised more than $60,000. Our goal this year is

to raise $85,000 and to attract 500 walkers. "

Doug Klyce, the 2010 Mobile Arthritis Walk Honorary Chairman, has been an

athlete and outdoorsman all his life. About six years ago, he started having

flu-like symptoms that would not go away. When he finally came to the point

where he could not get out of bed in the morning, his wife urged him to see

a doctor, who in turn referred him to a rheumatologist. Doug was diagnosed

with psoriatic arthritis at the age of 46.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, 2010 Junior Honoree Carlton

was just a 1-year-old when her mother, Lesley, noticed she was

having trouble walking. After seeing several doctors but getting no answers,

Lesley was referred by a family friend to a pediatric rheumatologist.

Carlton was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at 18 months.

" A 52-year-old man and a little girl that will turn 2 during April are faces

of arthritis, and both battle a disease each Arthritis affects 1.2 million

Alabamians and 4,500 children, Myers said. On April 24, " teams and

individuals will come together to walk on behalf of Doug, Carlton and

many others. "

This year's post-walk entertainment includes Troy Brannon and Mobile's own

blues legend Hank Becker. Activities for walkers and families include

fishing, canoeing and paddle boats, games and prizes, pony rides, face

painting, arts and crafts and inflatables.

Lunch, provided by The Shed Barbecue, will be available for participants to

purchase. s can enjoy the beautiful facility at Camp Grace, also the

home of Camp M*A*S*H (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting), the Arthritis Foundation's

camp for children with arthritis.

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, and

the group of diseases includes more than 120 forms, including

osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis,

to name a few.

" Unlike many nonprofits with fundraisers in this community, the Arthritis

Foundation is a non-federally funded agency, which means that the research,

development of new treatments and local programs comes from the money raised

in our local communities, " Myers said. " The Arthritis Foundation has

historically been the largest private funder of arthritis research in the

world. We rely on local corporate donations, foundation grants and

individual donations. "

The Arthritis Walk and Family Fun Day raises funds for the Arthritis

Foundation's mission on a local level, which includes research funding,

improving patient care, exercise programs and public education, and juvenile

arthritis programs like Camp M*A*S*H. The walk is the Arthritis Foundation's

annual nationwide signature event that raises funds and awareness to fight

arthritis, the nation's most common cause of disability.

Participants walk in honor of a friend or family member with arthritis.

People with arthritis wear blue hats to signify their action in taking

control of their condition. By joining your 2010 Arthritis Walk,

participants become a part of the " Let's Move Together " movement, a

nationwide effort that encourages people to move to prevent or treat

arthritis.

Registration and activities open at 7:15 a.m. " There is no registration fee

for this event, but we would like to encourage everyone to help us by making

a donation or recruiting others to make a donation to sponsor their walk, "

Myers said.

Anyone who raises or donates $100 or more will receive a 2010 Arthritis Walk

T-shirt, and people who raise money become eligible for some incentive

prizes, Myers said.

Camp Grace is located in west Mobile off Eliza Jordan Road. Take Airport

Boulevard west past Snow Road and take a right on Eliza Jordan Road. Signs

mark the left turn onto Elnina Road.

There is still time to form a team. Register and find details at

www.2010arthritiswalkmobile.kintera.org or call 251-639-9722. For more

information about the Arthritis Foundation, contact Myers at 251-510-4544 or

e-mail kmyers@....