Milwaukee – Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest participants will make their way to Milwaukee Irish Fest on Saturday, August 20, 2016 to help support the Arthritis Foundation and its mission to cure arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation strives to make it easier for people living with the disease to achieve everyday victories. Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest brings together the community to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability, and is a great way to experience the power of giving back to your community.
Local honorees will share their inspiring stories of living with arthritis during the Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest. Adult Champion Jenny Washburn is a 41 year old, mother of two, a wife, business owner and a wellness advocate; she also has arthritis. Jenny was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at age 29. When she was first diagnosed, she let RA define her life. Her pain was intense and unpredictable, so she stopped doing things she loved in fear of damaging her joints and the pain. The daily tasks that most people take for granted became an uphill battle for Jenny.
Although there are still days Jenny suffers from RA and depression, she uses those days as a lesson. “I listen to my body and give it what it needs to be able to live the life I want and deserve,” says Jenny, “My mission is to give hope, courage and strength to those that feel like their disease controls them. There is a better life waiting for you!”
In the United States alone, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children live with arthritis. Costing the U.S. economy $156 billion dollars a year, arthritis affects one in five Americans and causes more activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes. The Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest will help those living with arthritis by supporting programs, research and advocacy initiatives as well as fund crucial research aimed at finding a cure for the disease.
Medical Champion Dr. Donald Zoltan has been involved with the prevention and treatment of arthritis his entire medical career. He is a board certified orthopedic surgeon at Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center, S.C. and after many years treating arthritis patients, he knows the true effects of arthritis.
“Arthritis is more than just a few minor aches and pains. It’s a debilitating disease that robs people of their dreams,” says Medical Champion Dr. Donald Zoltan. “When you support the Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest, you become a Champion of Yes, helping us build a lifetime of victories while accelerating the search for a cure. Whether you are close to the disease or simply looking for an inspiring charity event that truly makes a difference, Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest is a great way to experience the power of standing together in the fight for a cure.”
To register for the Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest or to learn more about the event, visit 2016runtoirishfest.kintera.org or contact Molly Breitbach at 414-239-6181. To learn more about the Arthritis Foundation’s quest to cure arthritis, visit arthritis.org
