Updated:Added more facts
Last December we participated in the Jingle Bell Walk/Run in Mason City, IA. It was a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. You can ready my posts about it here and here.
We are doing the Arthritis Walk this Saturday (21st). The Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s signature event that takes place in communities nationwide to raise funds and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability.
As most of you know, our daughter Ellie. Has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. 300,000 children nationwide have some form of Arthritis. (There are over 100 forms!!!)
Ellie is currently in remission, which is awesome. She is also this year’s Youth Honoree. You can read some articles about her here, and here.
We have over 25 people walking with Team Waverly this Saturday!! Anybody in the area that would like join up feel free to head over to our site: Team Waverly. Feel free to donate a few hundred bucks while you are there! HAHA.
Seriously, do it! 
Chris
p.s.
• Arthritis or chronic joint symptoms affect 66 million adults and 300,000 children.
• 1 in 3 Iowans have some form of arthritis (793,000 Iowans)
More Facts
• 46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and 23 million have possible chronic joint symptoms.
• 9,500 Americans died due to arthritis in 2003.3
• Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5 to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.
• Arthritis costs our country $86 billion annually; $51 billion in direct medical costs.
• 50% of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.
• Americans with rheumatoid arthritis face a significantly increased rate of cardiovascular disease.
3 users commented in " Help Support Arthritis Research "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHey Chris, if you want to send the HTML for this post with all the links, I would be happy to repost it on Corn Beltway Boys.
My email is jordan1995@gmail.com
I hope you and wife can stay strong and GO Ellie! I find that kids that overcome these types of hurdles are some of the biggest heroes in the world.
Hey Chris - It’s a small world. I got to your blog through your response to my husband’s blog “the South of Iowa.” I’m not a regular blogger or blog visitor.
Your daughter is totally adorable. I enjoyed looking at your photo albums. Tell Tracy “Hi” from me.
I see you have been on RAGBRAI. I rode in 99, 00, & 01. It was a blast. I’ve missed several years due to family/kids but I plan to ride in 07. I made my plans before Lance Armstrong committed to the ride. I’ll be watching for you next summer. In the mean time I may check in on your blog on occasion.
Jackie (Greenlees) Gunzenhauser
I am sure Ellie is a terrific girl and it is great that she was the Youth Honoree. I am involved with the Arthritis Walk in Fredericksburg, Viringia. Keep up the great posts regarding the Arthritis Walk.
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