Join Rick Swaine of Livonia, Rachel Rohde of Birmingham, and the Beaumont Health System in the fight against the nation's leading cause of disability at the Arthritis Foundation's Arthritis Walk, presented by Premier Healthcare Management on May 11, at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. This family-friendly walking event raises awareness and funds to support the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan.
“I'm thrilled to be part of this event and even happier to help the 2.3 million adults and 10,300 children in Michigan who have arthritis,” says Swaine, who is president of Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe, and this year's Arthritis WalkĘ Community Chair.
Beaumont Health System is committed to promoting a healthy community and has been a long-time Arthritis WalkĘ sponsor. Health System employees have fielded numerous Arthritis WalkĘ teams fundraising more than $45,000 over the last 3 years.
Rachel Rohde, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon with the Michigan Orthopedic Institute, P.C., and Beaumont Health System. She is a past Arthritis Walk participant and team captain, and this year's medical chair. “Staying active is one of the best ways to fight arthritis. This is a great opportunity to have some fun while helping a lot of people,” says Dr. Rohde who also serves on the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Board of Trustees.
Fifty million Americans have arthritis including 300,000 children and 31 percent of all Michigan residents. The disease attacks and deteriorates the body's joints causing excruciating pain and severe disability. Arthritis limits activity more than heart disease, cancer or diabetes, and costs the U.S. economy $128 billion annually, according to a press release. The cause is unknown and there is no cure.
To register for the 2013 Arthritis Walk, Detroit Zoo, contact the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan, at (855) 529-2728 or online at www.Arthritis.org/Michigan.