Getting pumped up for yet the biggest and best Arthritis Walk ever! This year's kickoff luncheon was wonderful, filled with friends and supporters of the Arthritis Foundation. I'm proud to be a part of Wisdom Walkers, a team formed by my dear friend Dorothy Leone-Glasser. Visit her website, she's an inspiration and has truly become a mentor to me as well as Heidi McIntyre who is the greatest advocate of arthritis I've ever known. These women are why I walk and will always champion this important cause until a cure is found. Also icing on the cake was to see my friends Isabella and Zach there as well, they are just a joy and smile through the everyday pain of arthritis.
Here's a photo with my friend Zach! I've known him a little over two years. He was diagnosed with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) when he was six years old. Last year, he missed 57 days of school as a result of pain so bad that it often caused him to be so sick it was so bad that his body went into shock. After one procedure and two surgeries on his hips, he is doing better, but still lives with pain daily. He is unable to enjoy many of the activities that other kids his age do like paint ball, baseball, laser tag, dancing, hiking and camping, etc.
HELP KIDS LIKE ZACH! Arthritis is UNACCEPTABLE!
I will post soon how to volunteer for the Atlanta Arthritis Walk - it's FUN and a great way to help a worthy cause!
(1st photo: Meredith and Zach; 3rd photo: Heidi, Meredith, Beth and Dorothy; 5th photo: Meredith, Zach and his mom at Faces of arthritis event two years ago.)
