INDIA: Over 800 in Mumbai Walkathon For Arthritis Awareness

MUMBAI, India (Mumbai Mirror), October 15, 2007: Sunday, October 14, over 800 senior citizens participated in a walkathon aimed at creating awareness about arthritis. Dignity Foundation organised the event at Bandra Sea Link, off Bandra Reclamation. Participants included arthritis patients who had undergone surgery, elderly people with a potential threat from arthritis, leading orthopaedic surgeons and members of Dignity Foundation. On the occasion, Dr Sheilu Sreenivasan, president, Dignity Foundation, said, “There is much to be done to create awareness about arthritis. Events like this walkathon help trigger the ‘need to know.’ and prepare likely arthritis patients". Arthritis refers to a group of over 100 different conditions. It is common after the age of 50, but some forms can affect younger people as well. The elderly generally suffer from osteoarthritis, which affects hip and knee bones. Another form, rheumatoid arthritis, affects more than one joint and is prevalent among women between 20 and 50 years. Copyright ©2007 BCCL.