Winnetka's Rhiannon Carter, 11, Named National Youth Honoree

(Los Angeles, CA) – April 13, 2015 – “Kids get arthritis, too! It’s not just a disease affecting adults”, explains eleven-year old Rhiannon Carter, the 2015 National Youth Honoree for the nation-wide “Walk To Cure Arthritis”. Rhiannon stopped walking at the age of two, when her knees became painful and swollen, a symptom of Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. She takes medication by pill, injection and infusion as part of her monthly regimen.

Rhiannon will share her story with the public while raising funds for a cure. The Orange County/Inland Empire “Walk To Cure Arthritis” will be held on Sunday, May 17th at Angel Stadium, Anaheim. The Los Angeles “Walk To Cure Arthritis” takes place Saturday, May 30th at Exposition Park.

Rhiannon lives with her family in Winnetka and is in sixth grade at Beverly Vista Elementary School in Beverly Hills. She plays percussion in the school band, and soccer and kick ball on days that she feels strong enough to participate.

Rhiannon says the worst part of having juvenile arthritis was feeling different from the other kids, and not knowing any other kids with the disease. That changed two years ago when she attended her first Arthritis Foundation JA camp “It was the best time ever”, says Rhiannon. “I didn’t feel alone anymore.” She also participates in the annual Los Angeles area “Walk To Cure Arthritis”, forming a team with family members and friends.

As National Youth Honoree, Rhiannon and her family will join nearly 1,000 other members of the JA community at the 30th annual National Juvenile Arthritis Conference in Keystone, Colorado. Families will share similar challenges and learn about the latest advances in juvenile arthritis research and care.

Arthritis is a crippling disease that affects more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the nation. In Los Angeles, there are 1.2 million adults and 42,000 children suffering from one of 150 different forms of arthritis.

The annual “Walk To Cure Arthritis” brings together thousands of children and adults suffering from Arthritis, as well as members of the residential and business communities. Many local businesses form teams, sporting their company logos on hats or shirts. Families form teams and wear colorful shirts in honor or memory of a child or adult in their family who had or has arthritis. Children of all ages, walking or in strollers, are welcome.

About the Arthritis Foundation

Founded in 1948, The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. It leads the fight for the arthritis community and helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science, and community connections. Its goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life, and making each day another stride towards a cure.

For more information and to register for the 2015 “Walk To Cure Arthritis”, call (323) 954-5760 or visit: www.lawalktocurearthritis.org

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