Sports | Saturday 7 April, 2018 7:00 am |

On the 6th of April, the Middle East Arthritis Foundation (MEAF) organised an awareness walkathon “Walk for Arthritis” to make a difference to people in the UAE living with this condition. Supported by Dubai Municipality, Abbvie, Pfizer, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Janssen, people were encouraged to attend and to learn factors associated with arthritis, and to walk on this journey to promoting a pain-free life. Organised for the first time, the community event attracted more than 700 attendees making health a priority to people in 2018.

With arthritis affecting millions of people worldwide and one in five people in the UAE, it is imperative that ongoing awareness campaigns are rolled out to educate and support the community.

Dr. Humeira Badsha, Founding Member of the Middle East Arthritis Foundation said, “Every day millions of lives are affected by arthritis, and we’re ready to take a stand. Our walk to cure arthritis celebrates our warriors, encourages group therapy and additional efforts to encourage research, resources and a cure.”

“Our motto this year is ‘less pain and more gain’, with the aim to raise awareness about ways to prevent arthritis and to help people live a healthier and active life,” commented Sanria Khan, a patient and the Middle East Arthritis Foundation active member. “We hope that our event equipped people with more self-management tools and knowledge. It is much more than just a walk event, it’s something even bigger than arthritis itself driven by passionate patients like me. Movement of our body and mind is essential for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental state. Our message is simple - keep moving. If you do, you'll keep arthritis at bay.”

 

The Middle East Arthritis Foundation supports people of all ages living with arthritis and will hold several events over 2018 to raise awareness for the management and treatment of this life-changing chronic condition. For more information, people can visit www.arthritis.ae or check the latest updates on the MEAF Facebook page: Emirates Arthritis Foundation.