Week 4: The Basis of Compassion

"Recognizing we are all equal to being subject to aging, sickness, and death is the basis for compassion." 

 - A Buddhist value

 "I am tired from a hard day’s work of providing physiotherapy for 82 people and all I can think of is…I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow! "- Elise

I wake up each and every morning knowing that I will be making a difference in a person's life. My patients are faced with life altering health conditions which have made their daily tasks difficult to perform. I am inspired by their ability to cope with the modifications their condition has introduced into their life. For example, a twice stricken stroke patient using assistance to walk again. These small steps of improvement mean so much to them as they are able to gain control over their body.

Furthermore, when assisting patients with arthritis it has been the most difficult to treat. The reduction of cartilage around the boney joints due to arthritis has limited the use of their wrists, fingers, knees, and ankles. Most patients who receive physical treatment continue to feel pain and live with swollen joints. For example, a sedentary senior has the muscular strength to walk but can't because there is not enough to cushion in their knee joints.

According to Dr. Gilles Boire, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke “We lack the means of telling someone at the start of inflammatory arthritis how their disease will progress. This is a critical quality of life issue. Developing an accurate method to diagnose disease severity is essential. Many patients with inflammatory arthritis don’t respond to strong treatments, perhaps because these treatments are used too late in the course of the disease. A reliable diagnosis will allow rheumatologists to tell the difference between people who really need advanced medications and those who do not. This information will ease access to these treatments for those who need them most. Another result is that the cost burden on our health-care system would be relieved.” Read More   

Week 3: Research In Action

   "Greater understanding of what causes these diseases and how they progress will inevitably lead to improved treatments and, ultimately, cures.

The Arthritis Society has been the largest non-government funder of basic and applied arthritis research (more than $170M), which has led to significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatments, and care of patients with arthritis.

This year, The Arthritis Society continues to invest $4.4 million towards our Research and Career Development Program and regional research initiatives."  
Read More

- The Arthritis Society

Department		Total Investment:
Arthritis Centres	Arthritis Centres are funded to supplement and leverage resources at medical schools and to increase the profile of arthritis within universities.	$300,000
Canadian Arthritis Network	The Network allows young arthritis researchers to access and acquire combined expertise in basic science, clinical research, product service and development, and industrial partnering.	$500,000
Clinician Teacher/Educators	The role of the Clinician Teacher/Educator is to increase the profile of rheumatology within undergraduate and postgraduate medical school curricula in order to enhance recruitment of physicians into rheumatology training programs and eventual placement in academic Arthritis Centres and community practice in Canada.	$180,000
Investigators	The Arthritis Society gives this award to individuals who have now become established investigators, with a strong track record in obtaining independent operating grants from granting agencies.	$408,090
Distinguished Senior Research Investigators	This most senior of The Arthritis Society's salary awards, is granted only under exceptional circumstances and provides salary support for mid-career individuals. These Investigators have international reputations for excellence, have made outstanding contributions to arthritis research, and have demonstrated leadership in helping The Society achieve its objectives.	$171,500
National Research Initiatives	These National Research Initiatives are intended to support multi/trans-disciplinary teams of investigators who are tackling comprehensive questions relating to various priorities of arthritis research.	$539,881
Research Projects	Projects are funded to search for better treatments and solutions to prevent the disease for future generations.	$825,000
Research and Training Centres		$920,000
UCB Pharma/Canadian Rheumatology Association/ The Arthritis Society Rheumatology Postgraduate Fellowship	In an effort to support and nurture the number of rheumatology fellows in Canada, as well as to attract future medical students into the therapeutic area, UCB Pharma Canada Inc. has recently partnered with the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) and The Arthritis Society (The Society) to introduce the Postgraduate Rheumatology Fellowship Award Program.	$240,000
Other Funding and Investment	The Arthritis Society provides funds to support other arthritis research initiatives across Canada, through The Arthritis Society/Arthritis Health Professions Association Award, and the Arthritis Community Research Evaluation Unit.	$125,000

Week 2: Arthritic Treatments

    I provide physical therapy for over 200 people on a weekly basis. Many of my patients suffer from arthritis. Some of the treatments include: ultra sound, Paraffin wax, heat therapy, strength and flexibility exercises. 

      "Tied together by ligaments, the bones of joints are capped with a smooth substance called cartilage. This tough elastic material acts as a shock absorber and allows the bone ends to glide smoothly across each other. If the cartilage is destroyed (as in osteoarthritis), the bones of a joint can grind against each other causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.

      Between the bones is a joint cavity, which gives the bones room to move. The joint space between two bones is enclosed by a capsule that's flexible, yet strong enough to protect the joint against dislocation. The inner lining of this capsule, the synovium, produces a thick fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In many forms of arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed and thickened, producing extra fluid which contains inflammatory cells. The inflamed synovium and fluid can damage the cartilage and underlying bone.

     No one knows what causes arthritis, though scientists have uncovered a host of clues. Something can be done to manage most forms of arthritis, but it's very important that a correct diagnosis is established early." Read more! 

-The Arthritis Society

Day 1: Welcome!

The beginning of my journey towards helping millions!

Hello, My name is Elise. As a member of The Arthritis Society's Joints In Motion Training Team, I am raising money to increase the quality of life for Canadians living with arthritis. But I can't do it alone, I NEED YOUR HELP!

I have committed to raising a minimum of $7,500 in sponsorship pledges for The Arthritis Society. My challenges is two-fold: to reach my fundraising goal and to be physically prepared for the 10 km run. I am working to complete my fundraising project by March 31, 2011 so that I will then be able to concentrate on training for The Great Wall of China Marathon.    
  
Visit my Sponsor Page to submit an Online Donation!

For Cheque, or Credit Card Donations
Contact Elise  emano@rogers.com

Visit:

The Arthritis Society

The Great Wall of China Marathon
 
Charity Registration Number: 10807 1671 RR0004