2009 Arthritis Walk - Fairfax, VA

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Katie Richey

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	$100
	$50
	$25
	Other (min. $10)

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My Fundraising Goal:
$3,000.00

Money Raised to Date:
$1,780.00

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Show Us Your Moves!

I need your help in the movement to cure arthritis

Katie Richey is a 12-year-old Belmont Ridge Middle School student who loves figure-skating, horseback riding, volleyball and prefers history over any other subject. While Katie's interests and passions are typical for a teenager, the disease she has lived with since she was three years old is not. Nine years ago Katie was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JA).

Rheumatoid arthritis is not as rare as people may think. As many as 300,000 American children have juvenile arthritis (JA). In fact, more U.S. children are affected by JA than those affected by muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia combined. It strikes children under the age of 16, even affecting children as young as 2 years old. It can strike quickly, suddenly and mysteriously. Children often are too young to even express what is wrong with them.

Katie and her parents knew something was wrong; she was limping all of the time and at some point she simply couldn't walk. She and her family have gone through a lot since that moment. Once, she got very sick and was taken to the hospital because the medication she was on had weakened her immune system. Katie has experienced many painful days. "I had to get my knee drained with a big needle because it was so swollen from the arthritis. My knee hurt so bad that it was hard to enjoy anything due to the constant pain."

Katie admits that the disease has prevented her from participating in certain sports and some activities, but she is grateful for having great people around to support her: her parents, two sisters, two brothers and a huge extended family. Now that Katie has been selected as the 2009 Fairfax Arthritis Walk Champion she can count on her entire family to be there to show their support in the fight against arthritis.

Special Thanks to: