Santa Barbara Walk to Cure Arthritis is Saturday, April 26, 2014

Santa Barbara, California–The public is invited to help find a cure for arthritis by participating in and raising funds for the 2014 Santa Barbara Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, April 26. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and the Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. on the beautiful Santa Barbara City College West Campus at 967 Cliff Drive. There is a one mile or three mile option – both leisurely walks through the campus and along the beach on West Cabrillo Boulevard. The event provides a family-friendly environment with exercise, food, entertainment, kids’ activities, and a health expo. Pre-registration for the Arthritis Walk is strongly encouraged. For complete details, call Coordinator Laura Murphy at 805-563-4685 or visit www.ccarthritiswalk.org

The Santa Barbara Walk to Cure Arthritis will feature local honorees on the front lines in the battle against arthritis. The event’s Honorary Chair is John Muller, Owner of Muller & Weber Physical Therapy. Co-Medical Honorees are Dr. Susan Lemon, a rheumatologist, and her husband, Dr. Kyle Lemon, a hospitalist – both of whom work for Sansum Clinic. The event also spotlights a Youth Honoree. Amaia Laskin, 16 years old and a student at Santa Barbara High School who was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age 12.

“Arthritis is costly, painful and debilitating, and makes a significant impact in the lives of people in this community,” says Honorary Chair John Muller. “By participating in and raising funds for Walk to Cure Arthritis, you will help us reach our local goal of raising $100,000, which will move us that much closer to better treatment options and a cure.”

Arthritis is a crippling disease that impacts nearly 53 million adults and 300,000 children –approximately 23 percent of the United States population. The disease costs the U.S. economy $128 billion dollars a year, and is a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

Formerly known as the Arthritis Walk, Walk to Cure Arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation’s signature, nationwide fundraising event to prevent, control and cure the nation’s leading cause of disability.

Funds raised through the Walk to Cure Arthritis will go toward programs of research, education, advocacy and juvenile arthritis activities to help people today while finding a cure for tomorrow.

To learn more and register for the Santa Barbara Walk to Cure Arthritis, visit www.ccarthritiswalk.org or contact Laura Murphy at 805.563.4685. Additionally, the public is encouraged to join the effort in San Luis Obispo on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Cal Poly campus or visit www.sloarthritswalk.org. To learn more about the fight to cure arthritis, visit www.arthritiswalk.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information. The Arthritis Foundation – Pacific Region serves California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii and was awarded a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating.