September is Arthritis Month

The Canadian Arthritis Society’s flag was hoisted in front of the Fort Frances Civic Centre on Monday to mark September as Arthritis Month.
September has been proclaimed as Arthritis Month across the country with fundraising taking place in many communities for sufferers of the debilitating disease.
“Arthritis is bigger than people think,” noted Melvin Haukaas, a local arthritis victim who was on hand for the flag-raising.
“There’s many people in this town with arthritis and many people have died from it,” added Haukaas who has suffered from Arthritis since 1975.
Just in the last few years, many breakthroughs have been made to alleviate the suffering of arthritis victims.
Newfound drugs have helped restore strength mobility and agility by slowing down the disease.
Funds raised will contribute to that research nation-wide as well as help provide services to arthritis victims across Canada and in Fort Frances.
The Arthritis Society currently provides a number of services including visiting therapists, self-management programs and events such as joints in motion marathons and joint effort dress down days.
Locally an active support group meets the last Wednesday of every month in the Knights of Columbus Hall at 2 p.m.
The local Arthritis Society is collecting donations at 209 McIrvine Road, Fort Frances, P9A 3N3 or by calling 274-3593.