Arthritis Foundation 2022

WHO’S YOUR ROCK?

Volunteer leaders of the Arthritis Foundation showcase the importance of family, faith and support in conquering arthritis and raising awareness in hopes for a cure.

arthritis.org

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Champions of Yes THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION is boldly pursuing a cure for America’s No. 1 cause of disability while championing the fight to conquer arthritis with life-changing science, resources, advocacy and community connections. The Arthritis Foundation helps individuals live their best lives by creating a powerful network of support through empowering information and meaningful relationships. Whether it is online or in person, we are all working together to promote vital resources and research, push for change and create community connections that inform and uplift. This is what makes our community of millions thrive and why we are Champions of Yes. More than 58 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. live with arthritis. By 2040, the number of adults in the U.S. diagnosed with arthritis is projected

to increase 49% to more than 78 million (25.9% of all adults). Arthritis is the second largest driver of employer health care costs.

It is painful, costly and debilitating.

We have much work to do, but with partners like Cleveland Magazine and the success of our fundraising campaigns, we are achieving our mission day after day. We are pleased to announce the return of the 2022 Silver Spoon Awards event, one of Cleveland’s finest social and culinary evenings, to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Respecting that we are just emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will have a different, yet exciting, format. None of this work is possible without the efforts of our amazing network of volunteers. Read on to meet a few of these volunteers and why they are fighting for a cure.

With our sincere appreciation,

Kris Snyder Board Chair Arthritis Foundation

Courtney Durbin Executive Director Arthritis Foundation

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Arthritis Foundation Northeastern Ohio 216-487-3176 | arthritis.org/ohio

Arthritis Foundation Ohio @ArthritisFdn @SilverSpoonCLE

ROCK THE WALK! CLEVELAND

Cleveland Magazine @clevelandmag @clevelandmagazine

CLEVELAND MAGAZINE’S SILVER SPOON AWARDS WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022 VIP experience begins at 5:30 p.m.

Main event begins at 6:30 p.m.

Get involved today!

Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower Cleveland Magazine and the Arthritis Foundation are pleased to return live and in-person for the 2022 Silver Spoon Awards, one of Cleveland’s most outstanding social and culinary events.

Guests will indulge in delicious signature dishes from Northeast Ohio’s best restaurants and international wineries. Participating restaurants are Cleveland Magazine Silver Spoon Award winners and finalists as voted on by the extensive Cleveland Magazine readership. New this year, exciting changes to the event format and surprises await!

All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation

Saturday, August 27, 2022 Great Lakes Science Center arthritis.org - 216 487 3176

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For more information on the event, visit clevelandmagazine.com/silverspoon Sponsorship opportunities are available Contact Courtney Durbin at cdurbin@arthritis.org or 216-487-3176

LIVING IN THE YES ELLA SNYDER with her father and Arthritis Foundation board chair, Kris

At just 2 years old, Ella Snyder began showing symptoms of arthritis, such as walking with a limp in one leg, which caused the other leg to experience visible atrophy. Like most parents, Beth and Kris Snyder were very concerned, and they were shocked about Ella’s diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which spread from her ankles to her knees and jaw.

STAYING ACTIVE: Now 17, while Ella has daily symptoms, she manages her arthritis by taking weekly medication injections and staying active. As a busy high schooler, Ella needs to plan her social and academic activities around her injections because of the following day’s side effects, such as brain fog, tiredness and difficulty concentrating. Because of this, Ella now finds herself becoming anxious even before injection days, so she works with a chronic disease psychologist to find ways to handle the anxiety.

HOPE FOR A CURE: Ella’s hope for herself and others with arthritis is a future free from pain and the medications and one day, a cure. Although juvenile arthritis can be a lonely disease, Ella doesn’t let arthritis keep her from doing the things she loves, like reading, writing, debate, spending quality time with friends and participating in the musical Mamma Mia! What’s easy for her fellow thespians to accomplish in rehearsal may hurt Ella, but she doesn’t stop.

CONQUERING ARTHRITIS: Even thinking about the future and college, as Ella considers factors other teens don’t have to think about, she won’t let her arthritis define her. Together, the Snyder family is committed to conquering juvenile arthritis and raising community awareness in Cleveland and beyond.

FOUNDATION OF FAITH For Andrea Karger-Beard, daily life is active and busy as a proud mother of three energetic daughters. While the past decade has been filled with planning family adventures and raising the girls, Andrea’s journey with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has also been challenging at times.

ANDREA KARGER-BEARD with her husband and Arthritis Foundation board member, Kevin

A NEW NORMAL: Significant pain and numbness led to Andrea’s RA diagnosis at just 36 years old. Then the disease progressed to cartilage deterioration, resulting in surgery to completely fuse her wrist joint. Like so many, Andrea was surprised by the initial diagnosis, being a healthy, young woman with no family history of RA. Fear, sadness and anger transitioned to tenacity and resolve to live each day to its fullest.

ERIC MULL

FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT: Even when the side effects of the treatments were very intense, Andrea pushed through, finding a more bearable treatment plan and leaning on the support of her family through it all. Andrea’s husband, Kevin, found support from the Arthritis Foundation and soon became an active local leadership board member, helping raise awareness of the disease.

FINDING STRENGTH: In addition to Kevin and the rest of her family, Andrea is a woman of strong faith who credits God as her rock through her disease journey and her source of strength and comfort in troubling times. Andrea’s hope for the future is something most of us take for granted: to simply get a good night’s sleep and live pain free.

CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM

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MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE Caren Nakhooda was a healthy and athletic 30-year-old when she was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that causes debilitating inflammation of the spinal joints. Morning tightness seemed normal at first for someone as physically active as Caren, a former marathoner. But discomfort quickly progressed into a struggle to accomplish basic daily tasks, like walking up and down the stairs or sitting for extended periods.

CAREN NAKHOODA with her husband and Arthritis Foundation board member, Azim

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS: Upon diagnosis, Caren was glad to have validation that she was not imagining or exaggerating her chronic pain, an unfortunate thought millions of Americans living with a form of arthritis have when searching for answers. Because of the common myth that arthritis is just an elderly person’s illness, Caren thought she was too young to have it. She was relieved to know there were ways she could take control of her arthritis, but her journey has been long and full of trial and error.

SELF-ADVOCATING: For Caren, there have been good days and bad, and even better years than others. Today, Caren remains active and manages her arthritis through modified exercise, medications and being mindful of when breaks are needed. Flare-ups still occur, but over time she has learned how to get through them. Her hope for others is they understand the importance of self-advocating and learn they don’t have to live in constant pain.

ERIC MULL

FOUNDATION OF FAMILY: Caren considers her husband, Azim, and their three children her rocks, always giving her support when she’s struggling. Azim joined the Arthritis Foundation’s local leadership board.

Together, the Nakhooda family raises important arthritis awareness throughout the community.

By the Numbers: Arthritis Challenges and Solutions CHALLENGES

No. 1 cause of disability,

SOLUTIONS

Arthritis is America’s

affecting more than 58 million adults and children. Arthritis marginalizes and discriminates. It’s largely ignored and doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

1.3 million

adults and children in Northeast Ohio have arthritis.

That’s enough to fill FirstEnergy Stadium nearly 18 times.

The Arthritis Foundation has invested more than $500 million in scientific research in the past seven decades.

The Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial Network recently expanded to include 15 institutions and experts and funded 19 lead-edge research projects across 10 states.

Protected arthritis patients from surprise medical bills through support of the No Surprises Act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2022.

2020 Patient Education & Support 216,000 COVID webpage views 40,000 virtual event touchpoints 32,000 podcast downloads 5,500 patient inquiries answered

12,000

Nearly children in Ohio have juvenile arthritis.

Almost 90% of patients report having pain that interferes with their daily lives and activities.

100% pain over the past seven days.

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In 2021 the Arthrtis Foundation helped helped train 17 rheumatologists (in adult, pediatric, and med-peds specialties). Since 2018, we’ve invested $2.75 million in Fellowships to 14 Institutions, plus nearly $400,000 in 2020 and 2021 toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

187 Live Yes! Connect Groups in 38 states held 391 events for 2,082 registered members to provide mutual support.

1,500 participants in the virtual National JA Conference from 47 states and 9 countries 1,000 campers and volunteers attended virtual sessions during summer JA camp season

Your support makes this all possible.

Thank you!