Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk Blog

Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk 2009

The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk was held on May 2, 2009. It was a fun time.

This year we added a dog walk and contest. There were also many prizes given out to participants at the walk.

If you couldn’t attend the walk, watch the video to see what you missed. Be sure to get involved in the walk next year. Go to LetsMoveTogether.org to learn more.

Comcast Newsmakers Interview with Roger Carr on the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk

Roger Carr, Chair of the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk, discusses on Comcast Newsmakers the impact of arthritis and how to get involved in the Arthritis Walk in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Go to http://www.Arthritis.org to learn more about the Arthritis Foundation and the Arthritis Walk.

Arthritis Walk Regional Volunteer Training

You are invited to attend the volunteer training to learn more about the ways to plan and improve your local Arthritis Walk. Whether you are currently a walk volunteer or would like to find out more about volunteer opportunities, you won't want to miss out on this exciting training!

Date	Saturday, September 29th
Time	10:00am- 2:00pm
Location	The Arthritis Foundation 3805 Cutshaw Ave, Ste 200 Richmond, VA  23230

Lunch will be provided (please let us know if you have any dietary needs)

RSVP Sarah Wilson by September 23rd at 804-359-1700 ext 310 or swilson@arthritis.org,

Bring a friend!

Note: Announcement from the Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter website

Dog and People Friendly Walk Planned for the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk

There are some new things planned for the 2008 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk. One new addition is we are making it dog-friendly.

That's right, we took a poll and the dogs told us they felt left out In past years.  They wanted us to know that dogs get arthritis too and they wanted to participate as well.

We will be working out the details for the walk over the next several months. if you're interested in helping out on the planning team, just send an e-mail to Sarah or me (Roger) letting us know. We would love to have you involved.

Start taking your dog out for a daily stroll. You can't start preparing too early. Imagine the great shape he or she will be in when it is time to participate in the 2008 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk in May. It might even do us dog owners some good!

Celebrate the Success of the 2007 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk

Thank you for participating in the 4th Annual Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk at Mary Washington Hospital! Your participation makes the event what it is, a community event where people come together to help fight the many forms of arthritis and to ultimately find a cure!

With the funds you raised, along with the many corporate sponsors, this event has raised $45,000 and had over 325 participants, not to mention the wonderful volunteers who came out on the day of the walk. What a fun day and a successful event!

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CELEBRATE WITH US!

Please join us to celebrate the success of the Walk on Thursday, June 21st at Carlos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe' from 6:30 to 7:30PM.  We will announce which teams won awards as well as the top overall fundraiser and present plaques to our sponsors. Dinner will be served!

Carlos O'Kelly's is located at 2306 Plank Road in Fredericksburg
Please R.S.V.P. to Sarah Smith at 800-456-4687 ext.311 or ssmith@arthritis.org

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Update

Survey: Please take a moment to fill out our Walk Survey on the Fredericksburg Walk website, www.arthritiswalkfredericksburg.kintera.org . We really value your input and ideas, and are constantly looking to improve.  Take a couple moments, and we promise to evaluate the responses. The link to the survey is on the left hand column of the home page.  You may send the survey back via U.S.Mail, Fax (804-359-4900) or email to ssmith@arthritis.org .

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? is a television show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy that pits adults and kids against each other to determine who is the smartest. In the real world, outside of television, the same thing is happening.

Andrew is a 5th grade boy who joined our Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk committee this year. He prepared and gave an inspirational speech at our first committee meeting. He recruited a team of enthusiastic kids who planned and built what I believe was the best display at the walk and who also raised a significant amount of money for the Arthritis Foundation.

Andrew's enthusiasm was contagious. He even became a feature in our local newspaper. You can read the Free Lance-Star article at http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/042007/04182007/274251.

Andrew has found his passion. He is taking action on that passion to make the world a better place for others. There are many adults who could learn from Andrew's example.

The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk was a tremendous success this year. Andrew's actions contributed to that success.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

The Impact Of Juvenile Arthritis On A Family

If you have not seen the Arthritis Foundation video featuring our Junior Hero (Sam Lincoln) and his family, you can view it at http://www.arthritis.org/donate/sam.asp. Sam is one of the 300,000 children who suffer from juvenile arthritis.

We are proud to have Sam as our Junior Hero for the 2007 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk.

Thank you Lincoln family for sharing your lives with us so that we are more aware of the impact arthritis can have on families!

Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk Kick Off

You’re Invited!

The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk Kick Off and Fiesta on Thursday, April 5^th from 6-7pm

Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café

2306 Plank Road

Fredericksburg, Virginia

We hope to see you there!

Celebrate how you and your team will help end the pain caused by arthritis! Register your team or take on the challenge to become a team captain this year! Meet other team captains and volunteers and ask questions about the event! Learn fun, creative ideas to meet your fundraising goals!

The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk is May 5^th at Mary Washington Hospital

Registration begins at 8am and the Walk begins at 9am

 

 

If you have any questions about the event or if youwould like to RSVP,  please contact Sarah Smith at 800-456-4687 ext. 311 or ssmith@arthritis.org

Fit For Love...

That is the title of an inspiring article in the January/February 2007 issue of Arthritis Today magazine.

The article features Rudy and Joanne Rodriguez. They are a couple who work together and encourage each other to maintain a healthy lifestyle while also dealing with arthritis.

Did you know that Rudy and Joanne are veteran Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk participants? Joanne is also on the planning committee this year!

Thank you Rudy and Joanne for letting your story be told to make others aware of positive ways to reduce the impact of arthritis.

How Will My Donation/Fundraising for the Arthritis Walk Help the Arthritis Foundation in its Mission?

Would you like to know what a donation to the Arthritis Foundation can do for those struggling with arthritis?

The Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter has provided some examples that can be used for your Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk fundraising efforts. Here is what they provided:

• If you raise or donate $50 you could provide … A month’s supply of literature to a doctor who treats patients with arthritis.
• If you raise or donate $75 you could provide … Copies of Arthritis Today Newly Diagnosed magazine to local health care offices for new patients.
• If you raise or donate $150 you could … Send a child with arthritis and their family to the JA mini weekend to learn about their disease and network with other families.
• If you raise or donate $200 you could … Set up a health fair booth at a local event or company health expo to build awareness in a community.
• If you raise or donate $300 you could … Provide a Patient Education board stocked with brochures and an educational poster for a local rheumatologists office.
• If you raise or donate $500 you could … Send a Virginia Advocate to the National Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. to meet with their Congressional leaders about the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act on Capitol Hill.
• If you raise or donate $25 - $500 you could … Help provide grants to cover medicines, durable medical goods, Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement class fees or physical therapy for someone diagnosed with arthritis.
• If you raise or donate $1,000 you could … Send a family with a child with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis to the national Juvenile Arthritis conference.

Let potential donors know the impact that their contribution can have on others. They will feel better about providing their gift.