Greetings!

Those of you who know me, know that I'm an avid runner. I love it! Why not do something I enjoy AND raise money and awareness for an excellent cause - The Arthritis Foundation?

I am dedicating my run to a personal friend, Mrs. Paula Sparks of San Antonio, Texas.

I have known Paula through my involvement with the Texas Hunter Jumper Association. She has been tireless in her efforts as the THJA Board of Directors ~ Secretary in spite of the arthritis she has been suffering with for about 15 years. Additionally, Paula is a mother of five and has five grandchildren.

Did you know that there are over 43 Million Americans with arthritis? As our population ages, these numbers will, no doubt, continue to grow. Chances are you, or someone close to you, suffers from arthritis.

I am running, with The Arthritis Foundation's Joint's In Motion Training Team, in Athens, Greece on November 4, 2001.

My goal is to raise $5000. The money raised will: fund research; create and deliver educational, exercise, and support programs; improve perscription drug coverage; focus on federal public health efforts on Arthritis; produce free literature; run conferences and bring together the best minds in arthritis treatment and care.

The Arthritis Foundation currently provides more than $20 million in grants to more than 300 researchers to help find a cure, prevention or better treatment for arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation has sponsored research for more than 50 years and this sponsorship has resulted in major treatment advances for the more than 100 forms of arthritis that exist today.

The Foundation has 150 chapters and service points nationwide that provide community-based programs. The Arthritis Foundation is a volunteer-driven organization.

To find out more, please log onto the web site at: http://www.arthritis.org.

Please support me in my run and my effort to raise money for this very worthwhile organization.