Jingle Bell Walk and Run will raise arthritis awareness
Published Thursday November 19th, 2009
Ready to let your inner elf loose? Maybe you just want to put a little jingle in your step.
Whatever your reason, get into the spirit of the season now and sign up for the Medavie Blue Cross Jingle Bell Walk and Run for Arthritis.
In Hampton, the one- and five-kilometre walk and run is being held on Dec. 6, at the Seniors Resource Centre. It is in memory of Joyce Hovey, the wife of former mayor Jim Hovey. She had arthritis and passed away in 2008.
"This event is special because it's a fun-filled, family-oriented day. It's an event the whole family can participate in. It's something even arthritis sufferers can also participate in, with the one-kilometre," said Karen Buchanan, resource development co-ordinator for the New Brunswick Division of The Arthritis Society.
"It's going to be fun because people can don costumes, they can dress up all Christmassy. Jingle bells are going to be handed out to all participants to wear on their shoes. We're going to make some noise for arthritis."
The event is being held in three cities in the province. It kicks off in Fredericton, where the Jingle Bell Walk and Run is taking place on Sunday, she said. There will also be an event in Moncton this year, which is taking place on Nov. 29, at Mapleton Park. All of the events include a one-kilometre and a five-kilometre walk or run.
"You can register as an individual or as a team, and you have the choice of either paying a registration fee of $35 or getting pledges of $75 or more," says Buchanan. "Children under 12, their parents can register for them on line for $20 or they can fundraise pledges of $20."
Visit www.jinglebellwalkandrun.ca or www.jbwr.ca to learn more or to register. Each city has its own website, so simply click on the one closest to you.
Events such as the Jingle Bell Walk and Run are a great way to raise both funds and awareness for The Arthritis Society.
"We want to bring awareness to the community that there are people who are suffering with arthritis and that physical activity is something that we recommend to these patients," Buchanan said.
Arthritis is much wider spread than you might think, she says, effecting people of all ages, not just the elderly as some believe.
"There are 129,000 New Brunswickers with arthritis and it's not just a disease for the elderly. There are a lot of children, two years and up, that have arthritis," she says, and they're hearing about more and more children who are affected every day.
Arthritis covers a wide area and there are people who have it who may not ever realize it, Buchanan said.
According to The Arthritis Society website, arthritis - 'arth' meaning joint, 'itis' meaning inflammation - isn't a one-note story or even a few variations on a single theme; it actually consists of more than 100 different conditions.
As a non-profit organization, The Arthritis Society is constantly fundraising to be able to provide important programs and services to its clients.
"The money that we raise, a lot of the money stays in New Brunswick and goes towards the programs and services that we offer. These programs are self-management programs that teach people how to manage their arthritis by eating healthy and being physically active," Buchanan said.
A lot of the money raised also goes into research. This has resulted in a better quality of life thanks to improved treatments available to those suffering from arthritis.
While there have been dramatic results achieved with drugs alone, researchers are always looking for a cure.
"Awareness is what we want to bring to everybody's mind. I think we're doing that now more than ever. We're out there, doing things, getting involved in programs. We're talking to people on our registry more. We try and get (clients) involved in things," she said.
"We recently set up a new branch in Fredericton, so now we have three branches - one in Fredericton, one in Moncton and one in Saint John."
The branches are made up of groups of people who will put together public forums, wellness fairs and other arthritis awareness events.
As for the Jingle Bell Walk and Run, each participant will receive a race kit and a T-shirt.
Registration The event in Hampton is Sunday, Dec. 6. Registration is from noon to 1:45 p.m. at the Senior Resource Centre, with the walk and run getting underway at 2 p.m. Participants can also register and get a pledge sheet online. An award ceremony, entertainment and light snacks will follow the event.
To learn more about The Arthritis Society and the programs and services they offer in the community, visit www.arthritis.ca.
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