September is Arthritis Awareness Month
Join the #ArthritisIsSerious Campaign!
Arthritis impacts six million Canadians of ALL ages, including children. There are over 100 different forms of the disease. It costs the economy an estimated $33 billion per year and leads to more deaths than HIV/Aids, melanoma and asthma.
Arthritis is often invisible to those who don’t have it and is much more serious than most think. It is also plagued by misconceptions – like the belief that arthritis only involves minor aches and pains and only impacts older people.
To dispel some of these stereotypes and emphasize the need for critical arthritis research, Arthritis Research Canada will host a Reddit AMA, run a Facebook contest, share arthritis stories and facts and much more throughout the month of September.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Meet our Spokesperson
Arthritis Research Canada is excited to announce Team Canada’s Spencer O’Brien as our official spokesperson. The professional snowboarder was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 25 and just months before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. She thought her career was over. But today, thanks to arthritis research, she’s back on top of her sport.
Reddit AMA
On September 4th at 11 AM PDT, join Arthritis Research Canada spokesperson and Olympic snowboarder Spencer O’Brien for a Reddit AMA or “Ask Me Anything.” When O’Brien was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, she worried she might never snowboard again. Learn about her diagnosis, what it’s like to do an extreme sport with RA, and much more.
Facebook Contest
Enter our Arthritis Awareness Month Facebook contest for the chance to win a $50 Tim Hortons gift card. All you have to do is answer a multiple choice question correctly and “like” the contest post for the chance to win. The contest will run from September 1-30. A winner will be selected on or about October 1 by random draw. Visit our Facebook page after September 1 to enter.
Social Media
No one understands arthritis better than the people who live and breathe it every day – from patients to family members to researchers and physicians. Arthritis Research Canada will share stories, videos and facts from different perspectives throughout September. Share our posts to create awareness about this disease and the importance of arthritis research.
Fall Newsletter
Hear from a spouse coping with his wife’s rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. Meet a woman with a form of arthritis so rare that the average physician might only come across one case in his or her career. Learn about the connection between youth sports injuries and early onset osteoarthritis and OA prevention. Go behind the scenes of arthritis research and much more.
Donate
Arthritis is more serious than you think. Only arthritis research saves lives. Please consider donating to Arthritis Research Canada during Arthritis Awareness Month. All donations support research aimed at arthritis prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life issues. There are many ways for you to help make a difference.
