The Arthritis Foundation Debunks Arthritis Myths and Misconceptions Through Its “Let’s Get a Grip on Arthritis” Cause Campaign

ATLANTA, MAY 20, 2019 – The Arthritis Foundation is challenging all Americans to “Get a Grip on Arthritis” to help eradicate the disease once and for all after a recent Harris Poll Survey* commissioned by the Arthritis Foundation confirmed the disease is still widely misunderstood by the general public. By debunking myths and revealing truths about arthritis through its “ Let’s Get a Grip on Arthritis ” cause campaign,  the Arthritis Foundation hopes to rally more support and awareness for America’s No. 1 cause of disability.

“For more than 54 million kids and adults across the country, everyday activities like buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or getting in and out of the car are a challenge — and sometimes physically impossible – but only a small percentage of the country realizes that arthritis is the culprit, said Ann McNamara, senior vice president, revenue strategy, Arthritis Foundation. “More people in America have arthritis than those with breast cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and autism combined , yet it’s rarely talked about . Now is the time for us to rally support, from awareness to funds, to conquer this disease.”

The Harris Poll Survey results revealed that 85% of Americans believe arthritis needs more public attention as well as the following:

• More than 4 in 5 Americans have and/or know someone with arthritis.
• Fewer than 1 in 10 people (7%) know that arthritis is the No. 1 cause of long-term disability in the U.S. and an estimated 172 million workdays are lost annually due to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. **
• More than half of Americans (57%) don’t know that people with arthritis are at an increased risk for developing other conditions like heart disease, even though nearly half of all adults with heart disease (49.3%) or diabetes (47.1%) also have arthritis. **

Committed to raising awareness and rallying support, the Arthritis Foundation took its cause campaign “to the streets,” engaging with Americans at events throughout the country and online and spread its message with Clark Middleton, star of NBC’s The Blacklist, Arthritis Foundation celebrity volunteer and person with arthritis.

Now, the Arthritis Foundation is asking Americans to take one action to unlock a $5 donation, up to $50,000, sponsored on behalf of CVS Health and Cheribundi. Learn how to participate:

• Upload a photo of you living your best life (e.g., playing fetch with your dog, performing on stage, relaxing at the beach) to unlock the $5 donation by visiting https://arthritis.cheerity.com .

• Tag the Arthritis Foundation (Twitter, @ArthritisFdn ; Instagram, @ArthritisFoundation ) and include #LetsGripArthritis.
• Share the post with your friends on your social media channels and/or via text message.

“Arthritis has been part of my life since I was four years old, but it wasn’t until I missed a year of high school and endured 12 surgeries that people started to understand the depths of my arthritis and the pain it caused,” said Clark Middleton. “Being part of the Arthritis Foundation allows me to share my story and inspire others to lead with a positive attitude and never stop chasing their dreams.”

The Arthritis Foundation's "Let's Get a Grip on Arthritis" campaign is supported by presenting sponsor CVS Health, champion and official juice partner Cheribundi, and additional sponsors Bayer Aleve, PainBloc24, Artho7, Kaira and PopSockets.

To learn more, visit https://www.arthritis.org/LetsGripArthritis .

*According to a survey commissioned by the Arthritis Foundation and conducted by The Harris Poll. See below for the methodology.

**According to the Arthritis Foundation Arthritis by the Numbers: Book of Trusted Facts and Figures.

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Arthritis Foundation/Harris Poll Methodology:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Arthritis Foundation from October 18-22, 2018 among 2,016 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Claire Villines at [email protected] .

About the Arthritis Foundation:

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. The Arthritis Foundation’s goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life – and making each day another stride toward a cure. The Foundation also publishes Arthritis Today , the award-winning magazine that reaches 4 million readers.