Arthritis Doesn’t Just Affect The Elderly

ISSUED BY ARTHRITIS NEW ZEALAND

Media Release

27 September 2010

Arthritis Doesn’t Just Affect The Elderly

Today is the last day of the Arthritis Appeal Week and Arthritis New Zealand needs to highlight that arthritis doesn’t just affect the elderly.

50% of those diagnosed in New Zealand are of the working age. 1,000 are children and young adults. 25,000 New Zealanders will not work this year due to arthritis.

MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, 39 years of age knows only to well how arthritis can affect the working life. Sam was diagnosed with arthritis in his early 20’s.

Sam supports the work of Arthritis New Zealand by being an active member of the ‘Parliamentarians for Arthritis’ group and helped launch the Appeal Week. Sam urges New Zealanders to support the charity: “Arthritis New Zealand is doing a phenomenal job and I encourage all New Zealanders to support this worthwhile cause.”

Sandra Kirby, Chief Executive of Arthritis New Zealand is urging New Zealanders to get behind the annual appeal:“Thank you Sam for sharing your own personal story of living with arthritis and helping illustrate that it isn’t just the older generation whose quality of life is affected by arthritis.”

“Having a family member suffer from arthritis can have a huge impact on a family. We hope the New Zealand public will give kindly through our Annual Appeal Week so we can continue to offer our support and services to those families affected by arthritis.”

Arthritis New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s leading and trusted charities and it costs over $5 million a year to provide the charity’s essential services. The government funds approximately 12% of this sum. The balance is met through fundraising activities such as this Annual Appeal week.

To donate now please phone 0900 333 20, visit www.arthritis.org.nz or give generously to our very visible Arthritis New Zealand collectors who will be collecting on Friday 24th September 2010.

ENDS

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