Our 2009 Arthritis Walk - Florence, SC Honorees Are:
If you don't already have your own reason to walk, here are the Florence, SC Arthritis Walk & 5K Run Honorees For 2009.
Adult Honoree - Kerry Parker
 My name is Kerry Parker. I am 43 years old and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. When I was 30 years old I began noticing swelling and redness in the joints of my hands and feet. I went to my family doctor and after an exam and blood work, he diagnosed me with RA. He immediately sent me to a rheumatologist and through medication I am able to keep the symptoms under control. The medication that I currently take is Humira and Arava and they have helped me a great deal. Occasionally, I will have a flare up and have to increase my medication, but most of the time the swelling and stiffness is under control. I am so thankful that with the help of the medication I am able to work full time and lead a very active life.
My mother, Frances Petty, also has RA. My mother?s brother, grandmother, aunt, and mother also had RA. As you can see, this disease runs in the family! My mother is able to keep her RA under control by taking Orencia, Methetrexate and Celebrex. She still has some stiffness and pain but the medications help so that she can do the things that she enjoys.
My mom and I want to help in the fight to find a cure for this disease. I have 2 daughters, 3 nieces and 3 nephews and I don?t want to see this disease affect them the way it has affected the other generations in our family. Please help us with the fight to find a cure!
Pediatric Honoree - Emily Childers
Hi! My name is Emily Childers and I am 12 years old. I live with my parents, Duane and Audrey Childers, and my little sister, Sarah. I am in the 7th grade and I compete on our local swim team. For fun, I like to act in the theater, hang out with my friends, ride my bike, and roller skate. Someday I would like to be an actress on Broadway. I also want to be an advocate for kids like me, kids with juvenile arthritis. I was first diagnosed when I was 18 months old. My parents noticed my finger joints were swollen and they took me to the doctor. The doctors at Duke University determined that I had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I took daily doses of naproxen and, after awhile, my disease went into remission. When I was in third grade, I caught the chicken pox'and my arthritis came back. This time it was centered in my knees. Over the past few years, my arthritis has spread to both knees, both ankles, my wrists, and my fingers. My doctor at the Medical University of South Carolina is wonderful. We work like a team! I take lots of different medicines but the ones that help the most are Enbrel and Methotrexate. I have flares throughout the year but most don't last long and I usually only have to use my wheelchair for a few days at a time. Sometimes I'll have a bad flare that lasts weeks and keeps me home from school and stuck in bed. Sometimes people won't believe I have arthritis because I'm not old. Sometimes it is hard being the only kid around with this disease. That's why I want to speak out for other children with arthritis. I believe we will find a cure for this disease someday and I want to do my part to help! Won't you?
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE FLORENCE, SC ARTHRITIS WALK TODAY AND BEGIN RAISING MONEY TO HELP THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM ONE OF THE ONE-HUNDRED FORMS OF ARTHRITIS IN SOUTH CAROLINA LIKE EMILY
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