Today, October 12th, 2011, is World Arthritis Day. This year’s theme is “Move to Improve” — and that’s exactly what we want YOU to do!  We would like you to move around the world for arthritis awareness. By October 31st, the Arthritis Foundation by choosing your weapon against arthritis pain. The goal is covering the distance around the world — 24,900 miles! Walk, hike, jog, swim, bike (or however you move) as many miles as you can before October 31, 2011!

Join the Arthritis Foundation community in supporting the millions of people around the world living with one of the 117 types of arthritis and related rheumatic disease. Log your efforts below and share your good work with friends. Print out the tracking worksheet for help recording your miles. No matter how you move — whether it’s a hop, skip, and a jump, or a stroll through your neighborhood — every step you take will be bettering your own health and helping spread awareness about arthritis!

So, in honor of World Arthritis Day, let’s fight arthritis pain together and move to improve in 2011! Arthritis is unacceptable, and a cure is much-needed for the (at least)  1-in-5 Americans — including 300,000 kids — living with arthritis & rheumatic disease.

The Fight Arthritis Pain advocacy team was on Good Morning America today speaking out about arthritis. And, buildings all over the country, including the Empire State Building “went blue” for arthritis (so did tons of people who wore blue to represent and support the cause!) Additionally, on Oct. 13, the Arthritis Foundation will be ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Such great awareness for a great cause! Did you know that arthritis is the nation’s leading cause for disability? And that the US has spent $127.8 BILLION dollars on medical costs for arthritis and rheumatic disease care this year alone?  (More than cancer, for example, which was closer to $104 billion.) Something needs to change! 

And, you also knew about the Massage Envy Healing Hands events all across the United States.  Massage therapy can help get you moving by easing painful symptoms of arthritis.  Today, on World Arthritis Day, nearly 700 Massage Envy locations joined the ongoing fight against arthritis. Massage Envy, the pioneer and national leader of professional, convenient and affordable massage and spa services, donated $10 from every World Arthritis Day massage and facial to support the Arthritis Foundation’s efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis.

We also need to get the Congress to understand the importance of arthritis research, treatment, and funding.  For World Arthritis Day this year, Arthritis Foundation staff and volunteers stormed Capitol Hill going door-to-door with the message that arthritis is unacceptable. We are doing all we can to improve America’s awareness of arthritis.  Here, you can see what Secretary Sebelius had to say about arthritis and the growing Congressional Arthritis Caucus. Check out her message about preventing and managing arthritis and its symptoms.

Even DR. PHIL – who I wrote a blog about recently and who sparked an “RA Controversy” – chimed in on HIS blog in honor of World Arthritis Day. Read his nice blog entry, here.

All of this was just in the United States alone. However, arthritis and rheumatic diseases affects people worldwide! And, this was, after all, WORLD arthritis day. Here, you can check out worldwide events that were held and are being held for World Arthritis Day this October 12th. People all over the earth are suffering and thriving and living well with arthritis! For more about the worldwide Move to Improve “World Arthritis Day” initiative, click here.

 Our country does, however, still have a lot to achieve for better access, treatment, and prevention of arthritis. Let’s stand together in this effort. Send an email to your state representative and ask them to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus.

We have to keep supporting one another and keep moving together towards a cure. There are so many great resources out there from the Arthritis Foundation, to the American College of Rheumatology, EULAR, and more. Let’s move to improve and continue to spread awareness that the pain and disability from arthritis and rheumatic disease are simply unacceptable. 

Pssst….AND, if you “went blue” for arthritis, please take a photo and share it with us by tweeting @MidAtlanticAF with the hashtag #WAD! Or, leave a comment to let us know how you celebrated or advocated on this very special day.

Stay Well,

 Ashley Boynes-Shuck