This is a very personal cause for me, since I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 29.

Arthritis isn't just an "old age" disease. Over 66 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis, and over 300,000 of them are children. It affects everyone, even people who are in the "prime of their life."

The Arthritis walk is an important part of finding a cure. It raises funds for the Arthritis Foundation's ongoing research, and raises awareness in the community about the disease. Santa Clarita mayor Laurene Weste understands the importance of this--she was on hand for the event, together with over 300 walkers from all around our city.

Together, we raised over $50,000 for the Arthritis Foundation. We're still taking donations at the Santa Clarita Arthritis Walk site, http://scvarthritiswalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=144902.

I invite you to join us in pledging support for the Arthritis Foundation. We've seen such advances in treatment in the past two years, that I sincerely believe we will find a cure for this painful and debilitating disease in our lifetimes.