JOINT EFFORT ARTHRITIS WALK SLATED TO RAISE FUNDS IN MAY.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer VALENCIA - Volunteers both two- and four-legged gathered Friday to kick off an inaugural charity walk intended to raise funds for local arthritis sufferers. The Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Arthritis Walk, scheduled for May 15, is among dozens of fundraisers planned nationwide to benefit the Arthritis Foundation This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. and shed light on the debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction joint disease that afflicts about 66 million Americans. It's the first time for the 5K event in Santa Clarita, where an estimated 55,000 are affected by arthritis, said Terri Soto, the walk's organizer. ``This is an untapped population,'' she said. ``We know it's such a family community. We want to give the families of Santa Clarita the opportunity to walk to make a difference.'' The walk's organizers include Mayor Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he , City Councilwoman Laurene Weste and state Assemblyman Keith Richman Dr. Keith S. Richman is a California, United States, Republican politician. From 2001 to 2007, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County. , whose 38th District includes parts of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. . ``I'm not just here to talk the talk,'' said Richman, R-Granada Hills. ``I'm going to walk the walk.'' A practicing doctor before he left for Sacramento, Richman said he has seen hundreds of patients - not just the elderly - afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, with the disease. ``There are many debilitating forms of arthritis that affect children and individuals who are in the prime of their lives,'' he said. The event is also for dogs, since arthritis also affects thousands of canines. The company that makes Rimadyl, an arthritis medicine for dogs, is among the sponsors. A pit bull named Duke was present Friday to represent canine arthritis sufferers. ``He's here to represent all the pets who want to support their four- legged friends who have arthritis,'' said Brenda McClure, Duke's owner and the event chairwoman. The Santa Clarita Arthritis Walk is scheduled for May 15 at Bridgeport Community Park, 2350 Bridgeport Lane in Valencia. Contact the Arthritis Foundation at (818) 995-7378 for more information. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Above, a group of walkers and volunteers, including local leaders, amble amble a slower, non-racing version of pace gait in horses. broken amble has many characteristics of the amble but there are four beats to the gait with each foot contacting the ground independently. Called also single-foot. past the Bridgeport light tower, which will be part of the route. Below, Assemblyman Keith Richman, center, and Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth, rear right, chat during preparations for the inaugural fundraising walk. At left, Holy Cross Medical Center physical therapist Tom Burton gets a T-shirt from Terri Soto, senior director of the Arthritis Foundation's Santa Clarita Valley branch. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion