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Arthritis Consumer Experts

August 28, 2009
For Immediate Release

WHERE IS ARTHRITIS?
Month-long BC tour to raise arthritis awareness launches in Vancouver

(Vancouver, BC) — As a part of National Arthritis Month this September, the arthritis community in BC today launched the Where is Arthritis? provincial tour in Vancouver.

Starting with a special launch event at the False Creek Community Centre, the Where is Arthritis? tour will take arthritis "on the road" to raise awareness for better care, education and prevention of the disease. The Vancouver event features an official launch ceremony, the debut of a specially produced video supporting the tour, and a free, public arthritis diagnostic screening from 11a.m. - 1p.m.

"Although it affects one in six British Columbians, many people are unaware of how common arthritis is. The Where is arthritis? provincial tour is a chance to change how our communities see arthritis, to change how we live with arthritis, and talk about what resources and support are critical to manage our health, wellness, and quality of life," said Cheryl Koehn, founder and president of Arthritis Consumer Experts, who has lived with arthritis for almost twenty years. "The tour will challenge people's perception of arthritis, and answer the question, where is arthritis? The answer is — arthritis is all around you."

The Where is Arthritis? tour will be conducting free public arthritis workshops and diagnostic screenings in eight communities throughout BC, bringing resources, support, and information for people living with arthritis. In September, the tour will visit Vancouver, Prince George, Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, Abbotsford, Surrey, Saanich and Victoria.

"The Where is Arthritis Tour will help raise awareness across the province of this debilitating disease that affects patients young and old in B.C.," said Mary McNeil, Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC. "By getting screened for arthritis at an early age and leading a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating, physical activity and not smoking, we can reduce the risk of arthritis and other chronic diseases while improving our quality of life."

The Arthritis Society is supporting the tour as it visits communities in BC. "Arthritis is a vastly misunderstood disease," states Marg Vandenberg, Executive Director of The Arthritis Society, BC & Yukon Division. "People are unaware that arthritis can strike someone at any age, and it is among the top three chronic diseases in Canada. The Arthritis Society works to ensure that British Columbians with arthritis have access to timely diagnosis, education, and appropriate care, and this tour will play an important role in supporting those efforts."

About Where is Arthritis?
During the month of September, the Where is Arthritis? tour is stopping in communities throughout BC to conduct special events, arthritis workshops and screenings to inform, educate and support British Columbians living with or affected by arthritis. The Where is Arthritis? microsite is a one-stop-shop of resources, information, and stories about arthritis, and details about the tour coming to your community. Visit us at www.whereisarthritis.org.

Do you know where arthritis is? See the Where is Arthritis? tour video online at http://www.whereisarthritis.org/watch_the_video.cfm.

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Arthritis Consumer Experts
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) provides free education and information programs to people with arthritis and is committed to informing, educating and empowering people with arthritis to help them take control of their disease and improve their quality of life. ACE's JointHealth™ program provides evidence-based information in reader-friendly language to people with arthritis, the public, governments and media. www.jointhealth.org

The Arthritis Society of BC & Yukon
The Arthritis Society is Canada's principle health charity which empowers the nearly 4.5 million Canadians with arthritis to live their lives to the fullest by combating the daily limitations of arthritis. In the last 60 years, The Society has invested $165 million towards arthritis research to develop better treatments and ultimately find a cure. In British Columbia & Yukon, the Society provides education, support, and services to the more than 600,000 people who are currently battling arthritis. www.arthritis.ca

Media contacts:

Tara Knight
For Arthritis Consumer Experts
Cell: 604-726-0958
604-692-4229
tara.knight@hillandknowlton.ca

Marg Vandenberg or Quincey Kirschner
The Arthritis Society of BC & Yukon
778-389-9746
QKirschner@bc.arthritis.ca

Jeff Rud
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
(250) 952-2387
Jeff.Rud@gov.bc.ca