My Fundraising Goal:
$3,000.00 |
Money Raised to Date:
$2,025.00 |
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If you are unable to donate online, please print out a donation form. |
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| Join me in my efforts to support Arthritis Foundation, Carolinas Chapter!
| Hi! My name is Ashley Smith and I am a 28 year old native of Charlotte, NC! My parents still live in Charlotte and lucky for me both sides of my family reside in either North or South Carolina. In addition to my family, I also have an amazing group of friends close by - I can’t help but recognize how truly blessed I am to be surrounded by such love and encouragement!!
It is this abounding love and encouragement that pushes me live each day to its fullest and helps me get up and go when I don’t want to move. Since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in January of 2008, I have had to lean on this foundation more times that I can count. They have helped me adjust my “normal, healthy, active” lifestyle into one that is “BALANCED, healthy, and active”. And trust me it is still active (just ask my Mom) thanks to a great doctor, great medicines, and great love!
Arthritis affects more than 46 million Americans, including 300,000 children! I have been truly touched to learn that MY story of a life impacted by arthritis is far too common and in many ways it is OUR story as a whole community – one that we can all learn from, grow from, and hopefully one day put an end to!
MY story started with severe joint pain, swelling and fatigue that began the summer before my diagnosis and I count myself blessed to have been diagnosed so quickly – both to have an answer (waiting is terrible) and so I could begin finding the right treatment for my body. Overall I am doing very well – I have my bad days but thanks to a great doctor and a treatment plan that seems to work; I am able to stay active. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for OUR story – many people face years of pain before they are properly diagnosed and/or find the right treatment. My prayer is that through increased exposure and funding, WE will be able to put a stop to this painful disease! That is why events such as this one are so very important… New treatments can only be discovered through the research and exposure that is funded by the money raised through events just like this one!
I participated in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk® for Arthritis, a 5K fun run/walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation last year and it made a huge difference in my life – both in the connections I made with others who are going through the same thing and the opportunities I had to give back, to take the focus off “my” pain! I have been totally blown away by the generosity, support, encouragement, and love I have felt since I first started sharing my story. I hope this event, this opportunity to do something small, will encourage others and inspire anyone who visits this site to stop, say THANK YOU for their health, and actively consider “What can I do to help?”
If you have not yet checked out this event’s details, please do so today! You can visit this web page to make a secure, online contribution to help me reach my fundraising goal - $3000!! Again, I encourage you to take time to answer the question, “What can I do to help?” – maybe the answer is to pick a team (I am biased towards the Speedy Snowflakes) to join, or to make a donation, or to say a prayer for those who are impacted by this disease. Whatever your personal answer is, I know that together WE can make a difference… Thank you for your prayers, support, and donations!
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