HANNIBAL, MO. -- More than 150 walkers turned out for the 1st annual Hannibal Arthritis Walk.
The Arthritis Foundation hosted what it called the "Let's Move Together" arthritis walk
It's just one of 200 walks across the country held in conjunction with National Arthritis Month.
KHQA's Rajah Maples visited the event and talked with someone who's been affected by the disease.
Nora Baldner with the Arthritis Foundation said the organization was overwhelmed with the response of the first annual Hannibal Arthritis Walk. It raised more than $15,000 from fund raising and sponsorships. She said people who turned out to walk Saturday morning were not only raising money for a cure, but also honoring friends and family who have arthritis.
Nora Baldner said, "Typically everyone does think arthritis is for older people, but children can get it, too. There's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and even young people like myself have arthritis. I have arthritis and osteoarthtiris. I've had two hip replacements. That's why this is really heartwarming to me. Not only am I able to raise money and work for the Arthritis Foundation, but the people who are out here walking are helping me and my family and that just means so very much."
Baldner spent years working in television news in the Quincy area and has been instrumental in raising funds for the Arthritis Foundation with events including the Nora Baldner Ladies Classic Golf Tournament. We asked her how she's doing with the disease now.
Baldner said, "Luckily , I've had two surgeries, and I'm fine. It's very nice to know that the money we're raising goes toward improving implements that can be used in surgery, improving medications. We're working for great quality of life for people with arthritis, and it is working."
Since 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has provided about $400 million to arthritis-related research through its peer-review research award program.
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