Take a Walk in the Great Park to Benefit the Arthritis Foundation

Great Park is location for 2009 Orange County Arthritis Walk®

May 13, 2009 – IRVINE, California – Take a walk in the Great Park to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. The Orange County Great Park is the official site location for the 2009 Orange County Arthritis Walk® set to take place on Sunday, May 17th. The Arthritis Walk® is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual nationwide event to raise funds for arthritis research, health education and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. May is National Arthritis Month. Registration and parking are free.

The Arthritis Walk® features a three-mile and one-mile course. Participants can enjoy live music from “Knight Ryder,” LA’s and OC’s favorite 80′s band and a “Kids Zone” area with fun activities for children of all ages. Free arthritis and health information will be provided throughout the day.

“The Great Park is an ideal location for the 2009 Orange County Arthritis Walk,” said Mike Ellzey, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “The Great Park features wide open spaces that can accommodate large events while relieving traffic pressures and street closures that otherwise take place when large events are held elsewhere.”

“The Arthritis Foundation is to be commended for its outstanding work to combat this crippling disease,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “We welcome the Arthritis Foundation and those who are participating in the Arthritis Walk® at the Great Park.”

Walkers reach out to relatives, friends and neighbors to sponsor their walk in honor of a friend or family member with arthritis. People with arthritis wear blue hats to signify their action in taking control of their condition. This year’s arthritis walkers become part of the Let’s Move Together movement, a nationwide effort that encourages people to move to prevent or treat arthritis.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. The walk begins at 9:00 a.m. Interested persons can sign up for the 2009 Orange County Arthritis Walk, by visiting their website www.ocarthritiswalk.org.

Balloon flights will start at 9:00 a.m., wind and weather permitting.