Griffin needs your help!

Hi, This is Griffin!

My cousin Valerie is ten years old, and she's been on medication for arthritis almost every day since she was about my age. I think that's just crazy! I've just learned to walk, and I'm just in time to support her by participating in this year's Arthritis Walk. I was only a few days old during last year's walk, so my moms didn't get to walk last year, either. I'm trying to make up for it all by myself by raising $100 for each of us!

I don't really understand the details of Valerie's illness, so here's what her mom told me about it: Valerie’s story and her struggle with Arthritis is not unlike others. I would like to tell you her story so you can see why it is so important that we keep funding the Arthritis Foundation so they can find cures and provide support for people with arthritis. Valerie’s story begins shortly after she learned to walk. We noticed her walking with her knees straight, and she wouldn’t bend them when she got up and down from playing. Just after her first birthday, after a few different doctors and x-rays, she was finally diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. We have had many years of ups and downs. Valerie has to get a shot every week and was at one time taking six pills a day. She recently had to start taking another pill that is supposed to provide some relief from her other medicines that are making her sick to her stomach. She thought she was successful in beating the disease a couple of times only to relapse and have to start her medication all over again. Recently we tried to let her take her medicine orally instead of injecting it, but that small change made her knees swell so much she could hardly walk. Each time she comes off her medicine and relapses it is more challenging to get the arthritis under control again. We have had to get the fluid drained from one of her knees three times because medicine alone could not bring down her swelling. Her last relapse affected her range of motion in one of her knees and, we have to try to correct that. Valerie is on her fourth try with the medicine with only a combined period of about five months out of nine years not on medication. She will have to wait at least three years before we can try to be off medication again and see if we have beaten it this time. Without the research that the Arthritis Foundation does trying to find new medicines and a cure for Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, Valerie could go through this cycle over and over her entire life.

Now you see why I want to help! I'm going to walk as far as I can (and maybe ride in my fancy backpack for a while) and make sure Valerie will always be able to run with me when I get old enough! If you can help me make my cousin healthy by donating a few dollars, or even more, that's great. I'll make sure to chase Valerie extra hard when she gets well to show my appreciation!

Your buddy Griffin

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Arthritis Foundation.

My whole family thanks you!