Arthritis Walk: Walking For a Cure

Karen and Ethan Nelson discuss living with Arthritis and what can be done to help.

Eleven year old Ethan Nelson is a pretty busy 5th grader. He loves to play basketball, read books and build Lego castles. He’s a Tenderfoot Boy Scout and recently he even went on his very first overnight camp.

But when Ethan was four years-old, he was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and now, he struggles with the disease. He currently takes eight medications and has a hard time walking at recess. That’s tough when he wants to play a quick pick-up soccer game. Even getting out of bed to go to school takes its toll.
Ethan has just one wish which is pretty simple for a busy young man: to be normal like his friends and never have to deal with arthritis again.

This wish is common among the 371,000 Utahns currently suffering from Arthritis including 17,000 children. With over 15 forms of Arthritis, the disease affects many at any age. It is linked to many physical limitations and discomforts and those with Arthritis often report sever or more days of poor mental health than those without the disease.

The Arthritis Walk is being held June 7, 2008 at Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake City at 10 a.m. Registration is available online at www.Arthritis.org for individuals or a team of at least ten individuals. Those wishing to participate are welcome to bring pets.