Co-chair Mark Pirtle, Arthritis Foundation Community Director Ashley Jordan, 2009 walk co-honoree Elli Tracy, 2004 honoree Garrett Williams and Co-chair Anita Pirtle (L to R) were on hand.
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Northfield kindergartener Elli Tracy and Jean Moser are the 2009 honorees for the 5th annual Rutherford County Arthritis Walk, which takes place Saturday May 2 at Gateway Park.
These are just two examples of the more than 600,000 Tennesseans who are affected by autoimmune disorders.
“Arthritis is one of the things that doesn’t only affect older people …” said Ashley Jordan, Arthritis Foundation of Tennessee’s community director for Rutherford County. “It doesn’t discriminate against race, age or gender. It can hit any one at any time.”
Tracy, 6, was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 3 and Moser learned late last year she suffers from Crohn’s Disease.
To help fight these and other diseases, the Rutherford County Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation hopes to raise $38,000 from the annual walk.
The funds will be used to support services for those who have the disease and research into possible cures. Services supported by the funds include the Primary Care and Hope Clinic, exercise classes, research grants, educational programs and advocacy.
The local chapter invites everyone who has been affected by arthritis, or knows someone affected, to form a team of eight-10 walkers for the community event.
“Arthritis is the No. 1 debilitating disease in the world,” said Mark Pirtle, walk co-chair. “What I would like to see is … the community with a lot of walkers.”
To sign up a team, call 615-254-6795 ext. 107 or visit www.rutherfordarthritiswalk.kintera.org.
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