Supporting Arthritis Appeal Week

On Tuesday this week I helped launch Arthritis New Zealand’s 2010 appeal on the steps of Parliament with my colleague Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Wellington and All Black prop Neemia Tialata and his Wellington Lions team mates Jacob Ellison and Daniel Ramsay.

More than half a million New Zealanders will have arthritis in their lifetime. That’s one in every six people over the age of 15 years or one in three people over the age of 45. But this isn’t only an older person’s disease. Babies and toddlers right through to those in their adult years can be affected – in fact there are more than a thousand children and young people under the age of 18 affected by arthritis in New Zealand.

Arthritis New Zealand offers an extensive information and education service. Their role is to share what they have learnt so that arthritis sufferers are better able to manage their conditions.

Arthritis annual appeal week is from 21 – 28 September, with a street collection on Friday 24 September. Please look out for the street collectors, or to donate $20 you can phone 0900 333 20.