January 24, 2025 • 30 mins
Community DC Host Dennis Glasgow visits with the Arthritis Foundation, topics: Education, Helpline, Advocacy, Medications, Treatments, Research, Events, Fund Raising and much more with Executive Director Rebecca Caldwell and Development Manager Maddy Martin.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good morning and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host Ennis Glasgow. This morning we get a
chance to talk about something that's important to me, and
that's arthritis. As someone who's had an autoimmune disease since
nineteen eighty seven rheumatard arthritis also known as r it's
amazing how many people in our immediate families or extended families, friends,
coworkers that have one of the thousand types of arthritis
(00:25):
underneath the autoimmune umbrella. Now, over the next thirty minutes,
I'll be visiting with the Arthritis Foundations Executive Director Rebecca
Caldwell and development manager Mattie Martin. I hope you enjoyed
the conversation as much as I did.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good morning, ladies, Good morning, how are you Dennis.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I'm great, Well, Rebecca and MADDI, welcome to the show.
I've talked to the Arthritis Foundation for several years now,
and as most of my listeners know on Community DC,
I have had an autoimmune disease since I was twenty
one with rheumatard arthritis, so this hits near and dear
to my heart and it's amazing how many people now
I talk to Ladies when it comes to the umbrella
(01:02):
of autoimmune diseases, how many people have it either in
their immediate family, a coworker, a friend, or just somebody
they know. So it's a really timely conversation because I
know there's a lot coming up for what you two
are doing and your team and the Arthritis Foundation from
a national level out of Atlanta, but especially here in
the DMV. But Rebecca, what I'd like to do first?
(01:22):
Even though a lot of our audience is acquainted to
Withthritis Foundation about exactly what you do, So can you
give us kind of a thirty thousand foot view about
what the foundation does for us?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yes, thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We appreciate this opportunity to share out to the community
some of the things that are happening in the area
of arthritis. And as you mentioned, it's a pretty wide
umbrella of disease, the disease itself. But I will start
by saying, you know, our mission is to cure arthritis
(01:59):
because right now now it's the number one it's the
leading cause of disability, and I don't think people really
understand the breadth of the disease and how it does
affect people and their normal.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Living, daily living.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So this is very this is a very important topic
and we want to make sure that we're providing the
information that individuals need so that they can you know,
work and have a normal life in the process.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's a life changing disease, and so we.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Provide science, resources, advocacy, and there are activities that you
can join in. My colleague here, Maddie, is going to
talk about some of the ways you can get involved
in a short bit.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know, we serve as a.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Foundation nationally over fifty four million people who are living
with the disease in you in the US, and you'll
be surprised to know the three hundred thousand of those
individuals are children. So we call that juvenile arthritis, and
that's a whole other category that we're focused.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
On as well.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
This chapter, the Metro DC chapter, we serve Southern Maryland,
Northern Virginia, and BC Proper in the district, so there
we have one point one million living with the disease
and out of those one point one million in the
three areas within the Metro DC, there are ten thousand children.
(03:32):
So it's a big chunk where we live here, and
so this is really critical that we make sure that
we get the information out. We also focus on raising awareness,
So thank you for this opportunity to share more information
about what we're doing and how you can get assistance
and get involved. I will also say that other ways
(03:54):
of getting awarenesses through our advocacy and our public policy.
We have a really strong team that here in the district.
This is where they're our headquarters for public policy SITS
and they are very busy making policy, changing policy, making
sure that there's funding where it needs to be, and
(04:16):
working alongside of the leadership here in the Washington, DC area.
So this is a really important area for us. We
have grassroots mobilization available and we're always looking for advocates
to join us and join the fight to make your
voice heard. And a lot of the change comes from
(04:38):
those volunteer advocates, so that's one thing for you to consider.
We also have patient education and resources available.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
A lot of it is virtual. We can do some
in person.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We can do some things within your company if you
would like for us to do lunch and learns, or
within your organization's church family. We have those types of
opportunities available in terms of self management for workshops and
that type of thing and connect you with groups and
support groups. So we try to spread out and make
(05:13):
sure that there are all kinds of ways that we
can help and support you or your family members. The
only other thing I would like to mention that people,
I was surprised. So I was surprised that there are
over one thousand types of arthritis, believe it or not.
And it's anything that attacks the joints surrounding the tissue, swelling, pain, stiffness,
(05:38):
range of motion, and just overall it diminishes the quality
of life. And we want to stop that. We want
to make things a lot better. We have so much
emerging research. There's so many things in the pipeline that
can help. We have drug trials, we have all kinds
of things that all of you can get involved with.
(05:59):
The only last thing is I want to talk just
real high level some of these areas you would be surprised,
Like gout.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I was surprised.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Gout is part of under the umbrella of arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus,
osteo arthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis is strong there in that area.
And so there are many, many more, But I just
wanted to highlight the ones that I'm wondering if some
(06:29):
of you realize that they're considered arthritis. So that is
really kind of the overview for right now. And if
there any questions, Dennis that you have for me, Maddie
is going to cover a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
About how to get involved in the community.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well we'll do that, and Rebecca, thanks for sharing all that.
And folks, for somebody who's had a rheumatoid arthritis since
eighty seven, all the things that Rebecca hit on, and
that's just a tip of the iceberg with the foundation
offers you and your families or your friends or your
coworkers of what they do. I had none of that
in nineteen eighty seven, absolutely zero of it. So they've
come so far as a foundation and what they offer people,
(07:07):
which is absolutely extraordinary. So Maddie, let's bring you in
and talk about some of the things that you're working
on with your team.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Sure, yeah, of course.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
So we have a lot of exciting events coming up
this year. Rebecca and I kind of specialized in fundraising
events for the DC area Metro DC. So first off,
to kick it off, we have our Walk to Curethritis.
This is the annual fully fundraising event that happens every spring.
(07:35):
Basically a bunch of people get together, we have registrations,
it's fully it's free, it's fully.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Just fundraising.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
So we do a lot of peer to peer fundraising
as well as Facebook fundraiser things like that, and it's
really just a great cultivation of people getting together for
the cause, fighting for a cure. I'm one hundred percent
of the fundraising goes towards us for our our research funding,
rheumatology fellowships, all the things.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
That Rebecca listed that we do here.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
One hundred percent of the proceeds go straight to that.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
And so it's just a one mile walk that we
have and then we have a.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Lot of activation stations that talk with our advocacy groups.
We have a lot of sometimes pharma companies come out
and talk about the different types of drugs that they
have for patients of arthritis. We even have rheumatology office
and different doctors' offices come. So it's really a great
resource and event for people to get together and kind
(08:38):
of realize what we're why we're.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Doing what we're doing. And so we have three for
the DC area. We have our first.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
One coming up for on the Saturday, April twenty sixth
at the Wharf. I'm super excited about that. That's a
new venue for us. And then the following one, we
have one in Prince George's County, Maryland. That's going to
be at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, which is in Reenbuilt, Maryland.
And then the last one will be on May seventeenth
at Baker Park in Frederick. So we normally do these annually,
(09:09):
so this is all coming up in the spring.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
In the fall time, we do have a gala. It's
called Commitment to a Cure Gala.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
It typically brings together community leaders and healthcare professionals and
supporters who are passionate.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
About finding a cure for arthritis.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
And then this event normally has honorrees, live auctions. It's
a really great evening, just very inspiring. We have children's
speakers come, and we also honor a lot of veterans.
We had a whole veteran centric idea behind the gala
this past year, and that's going to be on October ninth,
(09:44):
which is a Thursday this year, at the Washington Marriott
at Metro Center.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
So we're super thrilled about that.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
And then we're just coming off of our Jingle Bell
Run which happens every December, and this is the annual
event that combines this aductivity with fundraising to sport Us
in our mission. It's it's normally held around the holiday season,
so normally the first or second week of December, and
participants are encouraged to run or walk. It's a five
k wearing holiday themed at tire and costumes.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Or jingling bells on their shoes. It's a really fun,
family friendly event.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
We have a lot of holiday spirit there and so
we have three events for that as well. So we
have one for the Metro DC area, which normally takes
place at Kindagon Roe in Arlington, Virginia. We also have
one in Montgomery County, Maryland at the Maryland Soccer Plex,
and then we also have one down in Solomon's Island.
So we really it's really great that all of our
(10:39):
events that we have are really spread out over our
area that we cover and really it's just touching base
on all different aspects of our region. And then we
also have a few other events that are in the
works right now. We normally have a Juvenile our Thry
to Stay and that normally occurs in October at Showdon's
National Hospital that we part with the Rheumatology department. It's
(11:01):
a really great day for families to come together, for
parents resources, talking with doctors about insurance authorizations, just families
to connect.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
And share the journey that they're going through with their children.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Juvenile our fritis is a really, really tough disease that
we cover in support and I don't think a lot
of people are aware that there's so many other families
out there who are going through the same journey.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And so we're.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Normally we're planning on doing that in October, and we're
also probably doing one in the summertime hopefully, and then
we also have a memorial golf tournament, the Sandy Donnaty
Golf Tournament, that happens in October as well. She was
a really great advocate for our foundation who passed away
a couple of years ago, and so her great family
(11:48):
goes together this fundraising golf tournament and all the proceeds
go to us. But yeah, so that's some exciting events
that we have coming up for twenty twenty five so far.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Well, thank you, Maddie, And as you can hear, folks,
the Arthritis Foundation is not short of events, and I've
been to the Galla before and it's incredible. So we're
gonna get the website a couple times. But I have
a feeling that people who have not already googled the website, Mattie,
why don't you give it to it now? And then
we'll also give it to him at the end of
the interview as well, to make sure they can check
out all those events and how to donate, which we're
(12:18):
going to talk about in just a little bit. But
what's that website for everybody?
Speaker 5 (12:21):
It was www dot arthritis dot org slash metro DC.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Thanks for that, Rebecca, let's get back to you. And
I wanted to talk to something specifically about the helpline
and this was one of the many things that I
wish I would have had in eighty seven when I
got sick. And I think everybody can relate to this.
When you have something hit you, whether it's being really
sick or having a long term illness, you don't realize
(12:46):
that there are other people that are experiencing what you are.
And that's what happened to me. And remember, there's no Internet,
there's no social media, there's nothing, there's no education about
in eighty seven, so I really felt like it was
on an island. So when I started first hearing out
what you were doing and other foundations around the United
States about the helpline and being able to talk to
somebody they could get me through a moment or had
(13:08):
some education. And your website's gorgeous. It's full of great
information and there's so many cool links and so many
things to check out and to find out other people
that are experiencing things that you are as well, and
being able to relate because right the human condition, we
all want to relate. I think the helpline is one
of the coolest things that you guys have. Can you
talk a little bit more about it for our listeners.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Absolutely, And I'm glad you brought that up because I
meant to give you the number. It's one eight hundred
to eight three seven eight zero zero, And like you said,
it is always available.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
It's free.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You can reach anyone there who can help you, give
you consultation, provide resources. It's all confidential and they are
available to talk to. These are professionals who understand the
disease and understand how to help and how to guide you,
and lots of resources when you call them and they
(14:08):
can kind.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Of point you to the right place or the right individual.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You may not even have a diagnosis yet, but you
can still call them and they can give you some
direction and let you know what your next steps are
and provide the resources that you need and expert support
answers appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
So it's a really great.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, no, it it's fantastic. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
I just want to add off with what Rebecca said,
But a big focus this here for the helpline is
mental health. It's actually proven that a lot of folks
with our threads have increased anxiety and depression. So we're
having a lot of mental health focus on our helpline
specialists and volunteers, just because you know, a new diagnosis
can be so anxiety inducing, especially when you don't know
(14:57):
who to turn to or where you even start. You know,
like Dennis you were saying back then you had you
didn't really know what to do.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, you know, you know what. To your point, met
it's isolating, is what it is, folks. It really is, Yeah,
it really is.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
So we're definitely honing in on that for twenty twenty five,
a big focus on mental health this year.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Well, I'm glad you talked about it. Listen, I have
a twenty two year old in her peer group that
is a big topic because between social media and anxiety
and how life is for them. I've gotten a great
education when it comes to mental wellness. But one of
the other things too, of me being a seventies kid
is that, you know, we were just kind of put
out in the wild and then he kind of sucked
it up. Whatever happened. That's just the way things were.
(15:37):
It was just a different time. It's just as simple
as that. But that doesn't mean I wasn't struggling folks
in eighty seven with anty mental wellness issues. I was.
I was horribly depressed and with my personal journey because
people didn't understand what was happening to me. They just disappeared.
And that happens to a lot of people out there
where friends and family don't understand something, whether you have cancer,
(15:57):
you have an autoimmune disease, and you start to look different,
interact different. People just disappear because it's easier to do that.
And that's no reflection on your personal family, your friends,
or your coworkers. It's once again the human condition. When
somebody doesn't understand something, instead of hitting it head on,
they just kind of disappear. And that's what happened to me.
So I'm so excited when I hear about the helpline.
(16:19):
And mental wellness is also part of talking your way
through things. If you have an autoimmune disease and you're
going through some kind of depression or a mental health
issue personally with a family member, it's great. So I'm
glad we did talk about that. I did want to
talk about ways to give in just getting involved, Rebecca,
because there are really so many ways to do that
when it comes to advocating, which i'd like you to
(16:41):
address because I know that's a big deal. When it
comes to fundraising and partnerships and volunteering, and then let's
really talk about also donations and way to give. Can
you go over all those for us?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Sure, thanks for asking a question, and I'm going to
tag team here with my colleague Met Maddie. I mean,
there are lots of ways to give their You can
give through our website, a simple gift.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
It doesn't matter the amounts.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
It can be any amount of money, but just the donation.
We appreciate that that helps us continue our research, our
program delivery, you know, our events that we do and research.
So there's a lot that your donation can do for
this cause as we march forward.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Also, there are major gifts.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
We have a group of you know, professionals who lead
the major gifts effort.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
We also have grants and foundations.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
I'm sort of going this way because Maddie can talk
a little bit more about the events, but we also
have well then we'll get into the gifts, but we
do have foundations and grants, and we also do have
those individual major donors. And then Maddy, you'll talk a
(18:01):
little bit about how our fundraising goes for our events
and ways to sponsor and those types of things.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Sure, yeah, I'll hop on that. But so for fundraising
for our events.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So, like I was saying, our walk is holy fundraising,
So no registration fee.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Nothing like that.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
We really just want people to get out there and fundraise.
A lot of times people will connect their Facebook account
or their Instagram account, and that's a really helpful.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Tool just to say hey, I'm doing this.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Walk in honor of so and so, or because I
have arthritis, or just because I want to give back
to the community. And so people will raise funds through
there and that's really where we get our fundraising from.
And for our jingle Bell Run that's a little bit different.
We have a registration fee of forty dollars ish it
changes over time, and.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
That includes a metal and a teacher.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
But we also do solely focus on fundraising for their
So it's a lot of people going out into their community,
going to gyms, going to their work, going to their doctors, whoever.
Just trying to get more people involved in more people
aware that this is a struggle that a lot of
people struggle with with our fritis, and so we really
(19:16):
rely on peer to peer fundraising and that's kind of
what I help coach a lot of our participants on.
We also have honorees for all of our events, which
are folks either who have arthritis or who help treat
patients with our Fridays, we have medical honorees or we
also have veteran honorees as well those it's actually one
(19:37):
in three veterans are actually discharged with our fritus, which
is which is an insane statistic which I found out
about joining here, and so we focus a lot on
the stories of these people in our communities kind of
to help elevate our events and say hey, like this
story happened, kind of encouraging people and then also bringing
(19:59):
their circle of influence to our events and bringing just
the community together.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
And then also too, for our gala, we have.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Silent auction, which is fully one hundred percent covered. We
get one hundred percent donations from people for items and
things like that, and so even if you're not coming
to our gala, we do have it online for people
to participate and silently bid on. And then also too
if you want to get more involved, we love having volunteers.
(20:29):
We have a great volunteer and engagement team here and
so we have volunteers for all of our events actually,
and you can access that through finding our events website,
which I can give Dennis for us to link. And
then also we just have general volunteers as well, so
we always need help with people going to health fairs,
helping with patient education programs, things like that, if you
(20:53):
just want to get involved generally. But yeah, we love
I think a big focus this year is getting really
good volunteers in our network. I think there's a lot
of people out there who want to help and us
kind of revamping everything.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
I'm just blown away by how much you guys do it. Really,
it's incredible. I know it's a lot, a lot, it's
a lot of work, and anybody who's ever met anybody
who works at a nonprofit, folks, it's overwhelming because it's
usually a small team and there's so much work to
be done. It's really incredible. I wanted to circle back
one more time, Rebecca, with you about advocation. And I
know this is a big deal now. I realize that
(21:25):
you're new in the position and you're going to be
ramping it up. But when it comes to advocating your
position for the foundation, why you look for small, medium,
large businesses, partners, donations, maybe even some government funds and
different grants and Capitol Hill. What's advocating light to the
arthright of this foundation? And before you answer that, I
realized talking to nonprofits in this series the last four
(21:46):
years that the more people that have a disease, the
better chance you are going to get money. That's just
the way it is, folks. If it's a small, unknown disease,
good luck getting money. But if a lot of people
have it, you got a better chance. So with that said, Rebecca,
what's at kidding? Like, in your position for the ar
Threadis Foundation, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Well, I'm going to ask Maddie to help me with
this one. I know what we're doing, but Maddie has
been here and working alongside of our team here in BC,
and so if you want to take that one, Maddie,
that'd be great.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Denni's all you're asking, like, how are we advocating for
the arthritis Foundation? So basically, I think when I joined,
arthritis is not super flattering, it's not very super well known.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I think that, you know, there are.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
A lot of other diseases that people have out there
that they think are way more serious. And so when
we're talking to corporations or sponsors or foundations for grants
and things like that, and even policymakers, we're saying, hey, like,
we know, you guys don't realize that this is actually
a really severe disease that people soccer with. And I
(22:54):
know that maybe there's some big name other diseases that
people think of.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
I'm not going to mention any but.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
This is a real thing, and this is how we're
advocating for ourselves because we need people and we need help.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
To help conquer this and finding cure for our ritis.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Well, I appreciate saying that, and you know, I think
statistics have shown us too that, especially with the autoimmune disease,
it's grown exponentially over the last couple of decadeses, so
it's a much more known disease. When I got it.
Once again, while there was no internet, social media or
education that way, people still had to make no mistake,
It's been around probably for hundreds of years. But now
(23:31):
that we're able to diagnose what these autoimmune and these
blood disorders are, all it takes. So Maddie, right, is
somebody that runs a corporation or business or somebody in
the family to have it and all of a sudden
they're in And I know that sometimes it's finding a
needle in a haystack those people. But that's what you
have to do when you're advocating something for the foundation.
Let's talk, yeah, go ahead's and Rebecca, if you could
(23:52):
expand on that just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Now, this is all good.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I do recall though we did talk about in the
office day about the advocate how we're advocating for insurance coverage.
That seems to be a big hurdle actually making sure
that the drugs are covered, that people can get what
they need, and that their insurance or medicare can cover
(24:18):
those drugs that can help them, and just you know,
making policies that improve the access of healthcare and treatments.
So I think those two, yeah, areas are really critical.
And Maddie, you were going to jump in, sure.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
I'm going to add off of what you just said,
But our advocacy program is actually really focusing on step
and repeat, which is a whole program. An issue that
we're having with folks who have tri generic brand drugs
and who have to switch insurance for whatever reason. A
lot of people, I know, I've heard many stories from
individuals who, you know, they turned twenty six, they have
(24:57):
tried the drug they got diagnosed, like at twenty one
or even as a child, which you've now with price.
They turn twenty six, they get kicked off their parents'
insurance plan and they switch to a new insurance and
they're like, hey, we know that there's all this information
saying that this one drug didn't work for you or
did work for you, but we're going to go with
the generic brand because that's Schuper and we're going to
(25:18):
make you go through all that again. And so our
policy team is really really focusing statewide and federal wide
making sure that this does not happen for insurance companies
to be able to do that, just because that is
such and that's so much money as well. Yeople are
going through months of time and money and all that
stuff when they know what drugs work best for them
(25:40):
and it's proven in the data.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Yeah, well, I'm glad you both brought that up. And
I'm going to be very clear on my next statements.
This is not the ladies talking. This is me talking,
who has our right and has it since eighty seven.
It is appalling, appalling how much arthritis drugs are folks,
and I have great insurance, but if you look it
up on the inner net about what people take for
ra which I do, you would it would blow your
(26:04):
top how expensive these drugs are. It's embarrassing, is what
it is. But it is what it is. But thanks
to these two ladies and advocacy and all other things,
hopefully drugs will come down. Who knows, but it is expensive,
and it's just it's it's mind numbing. I just can't
begin to tell you how maddening it is in time,
but that's me talking about that somebody who's had it
(26:25):
for a very long time, and somebody who has to
go through insurance for medication. It's just unbelievable how much
arthritis drugs are. I did want to do this because
we only have about three minutes left, ladies, and maybe
just some final thoughts, So Maddie, maybe just a recap
and everything that you've talked about, just for like a
minute and a half and then we'll get some final
thoughts from Rebeca. If you could please, the floor is yours, sure.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
So everyone please come out to our Walk to Cure Arthritis.
We're super excited. It's going to be a really great
year again.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Those dates are going to be April twenty six at
the DC Wharf, PG County will be made third at
Eleanor Roosevelt in green Belt, Virginia, and then Frederick, Maryland
Walk will be May seventeenth at Baker Park and then
keep an.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Eye out for falls on our social media's our commitment
to a cure Gallas coming up in the fall.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
We have been works a lot of patient education programs
as well, hopefully, and jingle Ball Run will be in December.
We have not finalized those states yet, but they will
be for Metro DC area, Montgomery County and Solomon's Island, Maryland.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Thank you for all that. Let's do this. Let's give
the website, Let's give the helpline number, and also give
everybody your socials too so they can know how to follow.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
All right, So you can call our helpline at one
eight three seven eight zero zero to find our Walk
to Cure Arthritis Metro DC page. That's going to be
www dot events, dot arthritis dot org, slash event slash
WTCA Metro DC.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
And then our Facebook.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Page is at our Threatus Foundation DC Metro, and then
our Instagram page is our Threats Foundation Underscore Metro.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
DC Outstanding Rebecca. Some final thoughts from you.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, I will just say thank you again for having
us today. It's important that everyone has an opportunity to
hear what is available to them. And just a reminder,
you know, just here in the DC, Metro and southern
Maryland and Northern Virginia, there are one point one million adults,
(28:29):
you know, living with the disease, and ten thousand of
those are children. And we've met some lovely children along
the way and just so they're so grateful to be
connected with like minds and like you know, situations and
if nothing else, that gives them something to thrive, you know,
to thrive for and to a way to communicate, a
(28:53):
way for them to feel better and not feel alone.
And so this is what we're here for. And the
fun raising that you do some of these events that
Maddie shared today, help to pay for the research, help
to pay for the public policy and fund all of
those efforts so that the drug prices can come down
(29:15):
and they are available for everyone to use. And so
just anything you can do, anything we can do to
support you and your family, that's what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
And do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
And let us know how you're feeling, what kind of
support you need, and we will direct you. But again,
the toll free number is a great place to start.
The website, you can take your time and browse through.
It's a really well done website and it provides you
with anything you can imagine that you want to know.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Well, it's my pleasure, Rebecca Maddie. It's great to meet
you guys, and you'll be back on the show. You
can see I'm personally invested. But thank you so much
for joining us today on Community DC. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Thank you outs
Good morning and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host Ennis Glasgow. This morning we get a
chance to talk about something that's important to me, and
that's arthritis. As someone who's had an autoimmune disease since
nineteen eighty seven rheumatard arthritis also known as r it's
amazing how many people in our immediate families or extended families, friends,
coworkers that have one of the thousand types of arthritis
(00:25):
underneath the autoimmune umbrella. Now, over the next thirty minutes,
I'll be visiting with the Arthritis Foundations Executive Director Rebecca
Caldwell and development manager Mattie Martin. I hope you enjoyed
the conversation as much as I did.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good morning, ladies, Good morning, how are you Dennis.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I'm great, Well, Rebecca and MADDI, welcome to the show.
I've talked to the Arthritis Foundation for several years now,
and as most of my listeners know on Community DC,
I have had an autoimmune disease since I was twenty
one with rheumatard arthritis, so this hits near and dear
to my heart and it's amazing how many people now
I talk to Ladies when it comes to the umbrella
(01:02):
of autoimmune diseases, how many people have it either in
their immediate family, a coworker, a friend, or just somebody
they know. So it's a really timely conversation because I
know there's a lot coming up for what you two
are doing and your team and the Arthritis Foundation from
a national level out of Atlanta, but especially here in
the DMV. But Rebecca, what I'd like to do first?
(01:22):
Even though a lot of our audience is acquainted to
Withthritis Foundation about exactly what you do, So can you
give us kind of a thirty thousand foot view about
what the foundation does for us?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yes, thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We appreciate this opportunity to share out to the community
some of the things that are happening in the area
of arthritis. And as you mentioned, it's a pretty wide
umbrella of disease, the disease itself. But I will start
by saying, you know, our mission is to cure arthritis
(01:59):
because right now now it's the number one it's the
leading cause of disability, and I don't think people really
understand the breadth of the disease and how it does
affect people and their normal.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Living, daily living.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So this is very this is a very important topic
and we want to make sure that we're providing the
information that individuals need so that they can you know,
work and have a normal life in the process.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's a life changing disease, and so we.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Provide science, resources, advocacy, and there are activities that you
can join in. My colleague here, Maddie, is going to
talk about some of the ways you can get involved
in a short bit.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know, we serve as a.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Foundation nationally over fifty four million people who are living
with the disease in you in the US, and you'll
be surprised to know the three hundred thousand of those
individuals are children. So we call that juvenile arthritis, and
that's a whole other category that we're focused.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
On as well.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
This chapter, the Metro DC chapter, we serve Southern Maryland,
Northern Virginia, and BC Proper in the district, so there
we have one point one million living with the disease
and out of those one point one million in the
three areas within the Metro DC, there are ten thousand children.
(03:32):
So it's a big chunk where we live here, and
so this is really critical that we make sure that
we get the information out. We also focus on raising awareness,
So thank you for this opportunity to share more information
about what we're doing and how you can get assistance
and get involved. I will also say that other ways
(03:54):
of getting awarenesses through our advocacy and our public policy.
We have a really strong team that here in the district.
This is where they're our headquarters for public policy SITS
and they are very busy making policy, changing policy, making
sure that there's funding where it needs to be, and
(04:16):
working alongside of the leadership here in the Washington, DC area.
So this is a really important area for us. We
have grassroots mobilization available and we're always looking for advocates
to join us and join the fight to make your
voice heard. And a lot of the change comes from
(04:38):
those volunteer advocates, so that's one thing for you to consider.
We also have patient education and resources available.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
A lot of it is virtual. We can do some
in person.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We can do some things within your company if you
would like for us to do lunch and learns, or
within your organization's church family. We have those types of
opportunities available in terms of self management for workshops and
that type of thing and connect you with groups and
support groups. So we try to spread out and make
(05:13):
sure that there are all kinds of ways that we
can help and support you or your family members. The
only other thing I would like to mention that people,
I was surprised. So I was surprised that there are
over one thousand types of arthritis, believe it or not.
And it's anything that attacks the joints surrounding the tissue, swelling, pain, stiffness,
(05:38):
range of motion, and just overall it diminishes the quality
of life. And we want to stop that. We want
to make things a lot better. We have so much
emerging research. There's so many things in the pipeline that
can help. We have drug trials, we have all kinds
of things that all of you can get involved with.
(05:59):
The only last thing is I want to talk just
real high level some of these areas you would be surprised,
Like gout.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I was surprised.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Gout is part of under the umbrella of arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus,
osteo arthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis is strong there in that area.
And so there are many, many more, But I just
wanted to highlight the ones that I'm wondering if some
(06:29):
of you realize that they're considered arthritis. So that is
really kind of the overview for right now. And if
there any questions, Dennis that you have for me, Maddie
is going to cover a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
About how to get involved in the community.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well we'll do that, and Rebecca, thanks for sharing all that.
And folks, for somebody who's had a rheumatoid arthritis since
eighty seven, all the things that Rebecca hit on, and
that's just a tip of the iceberg with the foundation
offers you and your families or your friends or your
coworkers of what they do. I had none of that
in nineteen eighty seven, absolutely zero of it. So they've
come so far as a foundation and what they offer people,
(07:07):
which is absolutely extraordinary. So Maddie, let's bring you in
and talk about some of the things that you're working
on with your team.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Sure, yeah, of course.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
So we have a lot of exciting events coming up
this year. Rebecca and I kind of specialized in fundraising
events for the DC area Metro DC. So first off,
to kick it off, we have our Walk to Curethritis.
This is the annual fully fundraising event that happens every spring.
(07:35):
Basically a bunch of people get together, we have registrations,
it's fully it's free, it's fully.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Just fundraising.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
So we do a lot of peer to peer fundraising
as well as Facebook fundraiser things like that, and it's
really just a great cultivation of people getting together for
the cause, fighting for a cure. I'm one hundred percent
of the fundraising goes towards us for our our research funding,
rheumatology fellowships, all the things.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
That Rebecca listed that we do here.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
One hundred percent of the proceeds go straight to that.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
And so it's just a one mile walk that we
have and then we have a.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Lot of activation stations that talk with our advocacy groups.
We have a lot of sometimes pharma companies come out
and talk about the different types of drugs that they
have for patients of arthritis. We even have rheumatology office
and different doctors' offices come. So it's really a great
resource and event for people to get together and kind
(08:38):
of realize what we're why we're.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Doing what we're doing. And so we have three for
the DC area. We have our first.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
One coming up for on the Saturday, April twenty sixth
at the Wharf. I'm super excited about that. That's a
new venue for us. And then the following one, we
have one in Prince George's County, Maryland. That's going to
be at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, which is in Reenbuilt, Maryland.
And then the last one will be on May seventeenth
at Baker Park in Frederick. So we normally do these annually,
(09:09):
so this is all coming up in the spring.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
In the fall time, we do have a gala. It's
called Commitment to a Cure Gala.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
It typically brings together community leaders and healthcare professionals and
supporters who are passionate.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
About finding a cure for arthritis.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
And then this event normally has honorrees, live auctions. It's
a really great evening, just very inspiring. We have children's
speakers come, and we also honor a lot of veterans.
We had a whole veteran centric idea behind the gala
this past year, and that's going to be on October ninth,
(09:44):
which is a Thursday this year, at the Washington Marriott
at Metro Center.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
So we're super thrilled about that.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
And then we're just coming off of our Jingle Bell
Run which happens every December, and this is the annual
event that combines this aductivity with fundraising to sport Us
in our mission. It's it's normally held around the holiday season,
so normally the first or second week of December, and
participants are encouraged to run or walk. It's a five
k wearing holiday themed at tire and costumes.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Or jingling bells on their shoes. It's a really fun,
family friendly event.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
We have a lot of holiday spirit there and so
we have three events for that as well. So we
have one for the Metro DC area, which normally takes
place at Kindagon Roe in Arlington, Virginia. We also have
one in Montgomery County, Maryland at the Maryland Soccer Plex,
and then we also have one down in Solomon's Island.
So we really it's really great that all of our
(10:39):
events that we have are really spread out over our
area that we cover and really it's just touching base
on all different aspects of our region. And then we
also have a few other events that are in the
works right now. We normally have a Juvenile our Thry
to Stay and that normally occurs in October at Showdon's
National Hospital that we part with the Rheumatology department. It's
(11:01):
a really great day for families to come together, for
parents resources, talking with doctors about insurance authorizations, just families
to connect.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
And share the journey that they're going through with their children.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Juvenile our fritis is a really, really tough disease that
we cover in support and I don't think a lot
of people are aware that there's so many other families
out there who are going through the same journey.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And so we're.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Normally we're planning on doing that in October, and we're
also probably doing one in the summertime hopefully, and then
we also have a memorial golf tournament, the Sandy Donnaty
Golf Tournament, that happens in October as well. She was
a really great advocate for our foundation who passed away
a couple of years ago, and so her great family
(11:48):
goes together this fundraising golf tournament and all the proceeds
go to us. But yeah, so that's some exciting events
that we have coming up for twenty twenty five so far.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Well, thank you, Maddie, And as you can hear, folks,
the Arthritis Foundation is not short of events, and I've
been to the Galla before and it's incredible. So we're
gonna get the website a couple times. But I have
a feeling that people who have not already googled the website, Mattie,
why don't you give it to it now? And then
we'll also give it to him at the end of
the interview as well, to make sure they can check
out all those events and how to donate, which we're
(12:18):
going to talk about in just a little bit. But
what's that website for everybody?
Speaker 5 (12:21):
It was www dot arthritis dot org slash metro DC.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Thanks for that, Rebecca, let's get back to you. And
I wanted to talk to something specifically about the helpline
and this was one of the many things that I
wish I would have had in eighty seven when I
got sick. And I think everybody can relate to this.
When you have something hit you, whether it's being really
sick or having a long term illness, you don't realize
(12:46):
that there are other people that are experiencing what you are.
And that's what happened to me. And remember, there's no Internet,
there's no social media, there's nothing, there's no education about
in eighty seven, so I really felt like it was
on an island. So when I started first hearing out
what you were doing and other foundations around the United
States about the helpline and being able to talk to
somebody they could get me through a moment or had
(13:08):
some education. And your website's gorgeous. It's full of great
information and there's so many cool links and so many
things to check out and to find out other people
that are experiencing things that you are as well, and
being able to relate because right the human condition, we
all want to relate. I think the helpline is one
of the coolest things that you guys have. Can you
talk a little bit more about it for our listeners.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Absolutely, And I'm glad you brought that up because I
meant to give you the number. It's one eight hundred
to eight three seven eight zero zero, And like you said,
it is always available.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
It's free.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You can reach anyone there who can help you, give
you consultation, provide resources. It's all confidential and they are
available to talk to. These are professionals who understand the
disease and understand how to help and how to guide you,
and lots of resources when you call them and they
(14:08):
can kind.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Of point you to the right place or the right individual.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You may not even have a diagnosis yet, but you
can still call them and they can give you some
direction and let you know what your next steps are
and provide the resources that you need and expert support
answers appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
So it's a really great.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, no, it it's fantastic. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
I just want to add off with what Rebecca said,
But a big focus this here for the helpline is
mental health. It's actually proven that a lot of folks
with our threads have increased anxiety and depression. So we're
having a lot of mental health focus on our helpline
specialists and volunteers, just because you know, a new diagnosis
can be so anxiety inducing, especially when you don't know
(14:57):
who to turn to or where you even start. You know,
like Dennis you were saying back then you had you
didn't really know what to do.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, you know, you know what. To your point, met
it's isolating, is what it is, folks. It really is, Yeah,
it really is.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
So we're definitely honing in on that for twenty twenty five,
a big focus on mental health this year.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Well, I'm glad you talked about it. Listen, I have
a twenty two year old in her peer group that
is a big topic because between social media and anxiety
and how life is for them. I've gotten a great
education when it comes to mental wellness. But one of
the other things too, of me being a seventies kid
is that, you know, we were just kind of put
out in the wild and then he kind of sucked
it up. Whatever happened. That's just the way things were.
(15:37):
It was just a different time. It's just as simple
as that. But that doesn't mean I wasn't struggling folks
in eighty seven with anty mental wellness issues. I was.
I was horribly depressed and with my personal journey because
people didn't understand what was happening to me. They just disappeared.
And that happens to a lot of people out there
where friends and family don't understand something, whether you have cancer,
(15:57):
you have an autoimmune disease, and you start to look different,
interact different. People just disappear because it's easier to do that.
And that's no reflection on your personal family, your friends,
or your coworkers. It's once again the human condition. When
somebody doesn't understand something, instead of hitting it head on,
they just kind of disappear. And that's what happened to me.
So I'm so excited when I hear about the helpline.
(16:19):
And mental wellness is also part of talking your way
through things. If you have an autoimmune disease and you're
going through some kind of depression or a mental health
issue personally with a family member, it's great. So I'm
glad we did talk about that. I did want to
talk about ways to give in just getting involved, Rebecca,
because there are really so many ways to do that
when it comes to advocating, which i'd like you to
(16:41):
address because I know that's a big deal. When it
comes to fundraising and partnerships and volunteering, and then let's
really talk about also donations and way to give. Can
you go over all those for us?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Sure, thanks for asking a question, and I'm going to
tag team here with my colleague Met Maddie. I mean,
there are lots of ways to give their You can
give through our website, a simple gift.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
It doesn't matter the amounts.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
It can be any amount of money, but just the donation.
We appreciate that that helps us continue our research, our
program delivery, you know, our events that we do and research.
So there's a lot that your donation can do for
this cause as we march forward.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Also, there are major gifts.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
We have a group of you know, professionals who lead
the major gifts effort.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
We also have grants and foundations.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
I'm sort of going this way because Maddie can talk
a little bit more about the events, but we also
have well then we'll get into the gifts, but we
do have foundations and grants, and we also do have
those individual major donors. And then Maddy, you'll talk a
(18:01):
little bit about how our fundraising goes for our events
and ways to sponsor and those types of things.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Sure, yeah, I'll hop on that. But so for fundraising
for our events.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So, like I was saying, our walk is holy fundraising,
So no registration fee.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Nothing like that.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
We really just want people to get out there and fundraise.
A lot of times people will connect their Facebook account
or their Instagram account, and that's a really helpful.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Tool just to say hey, I'm doing this.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Walk in honor of so and so, or because I
have arthritis, or just because I want to give back
to the community. And so people will raise funds through
there and that's really where we get our fundraising from.
And for our jingle Bell Run that's a little bit different.
We have a registration fee of forty dollars ish it
changes over time, and.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
That includes a metal and a teacher.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
But we also do solely focus on fundraising for their
So it's a lot of people going out into their community,
going to gyms, going to their work, going to their doctors, whoever.
Just trying to get more people involved in more people
aware that this is a struggle that a lot of
people struggle with with our fritis, and so we really
(19:16):
rely on peer to peer fundraising and that's kind of
what I help coach a lot of our participants on.
We also have honorees for all of our events, which
are folks either who have arthritis or who help treat
patients with our Fridays, we have medical honorees or we
also have veteran honorees as well those it's actually one
(19:37):
in three veterans are actually discharged with our fritus, which
is which is an insane statistic which I found out
about joining here, and so we focus a lot on
the stories of these people in our communities kind of
to help elevate our events and say hey, like this
story happened, kind of encouraging people and then also bringing
(19:59):
their circle of influence to our events and bringing just
the community together.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
And then also too, for our gala, we have.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Silent auction, which is fully one hundred percent covered. We
get one hundred percent donations from people for items and
things like that, and so even if you're not coming
to our gala, we do have it online for people
to participate and silently bid on. And then also too
if you want to get more involved, we love having volunteers.
(20:29):
We have a great volunteer and engagement team here and
so we have volunteers for all of our events actually,
and you can access that through finding our events website,
which I can give Dennis for us to link. And
then also we just have general volunteers as well, so
we always need help with people going to health fairs,
helping with patient education programs, things like that, if you
(20:53):
just want to get involved generally. But yeah, we love
I think a big focus this year is getting really
good volunteers in our network. I think there's a lot
of people out there who want to help and us
kind of revamping everything.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
I'm just blown away by how much you guys do it. Really,
it's incredible. I know it's a lot, a lot, it's
a lot of work, and anybody who's ever met anybody
who works at a nonprofit, folks, it's overwhelming because it's
usually a small team and there's so much work to
be done. It's really incredible. I wanted to circle back
one more time, Rebecca, with you about advocation. And I
know this is a big deal now. I realize that
(21:25):
you're new in the position and you're going to be
ramping it up. But when it comes to advocating your
position for the foundation, why you look for small, medium,
large businesses, partners, donations, maybe even some government funds and
different grants and Capitol Hill. What's advocating light to the
arthright of this foundation? And before you answer that, I
realized talking to nonprofits in this series the last four
(21:46):
years that the more people that have a disease, the
better chance you are going to get money. That's just
the way it is, folks. If it's a small, unknown disease,
good luck getting money. But if a lot of people
have it, you got a better chance. So with that said, Rebecca,
what's at kidding? Like, in your position for the ar
Threadis Foundation, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Well, I'm going to ask Maddie to help me with
this one. I know what we're doing, but Maddie has
been here and working alongside of our team here in BC,
and so if you want to take that one, Maddie,
that'd be great.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Denni's all you're asking, like, how are we advocating for
the arthritis Foundation? So basically, I think when I joined,
arthritis is not super flattering, it's not very super well known.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I think that, you know, there are.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
A lot of other diseases that people have out there
that they think are way more serious. And so when
we're talking to corporations or sponsors or foundations for grants
and things like that, and even policymakers, we're saying, hey, like,
we know, you guys don't realize that this is actually
a really severe disease that people soccer with. And I
(22:54):
know that maybe there's some big name other diseases that
people think of.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
I'm not going to mention any but.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
This is a real thing, and this is how we're
advocating for ourselves because we need people and we need help.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
To help conquer this and finding cure for our ritis.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Well, I appreciate saying that, and you know, I think
statistics have shown us too that, especially with the autoimmune disease,
it's grown exponentially over the last couple of decadeses, so
it's a much more known disease. When I got it.
Once again, while there was no internet, social media or
education that way, people still had to make no mistake,
It's been around probably for hundreds of years. But now
(23:31):
that we're able to diagnose what these autoimmune and these
blood disorders are, all it takes. So Maddie, right, is
somebody that runs a corporation or business or somebody in
the family to have it and all of a sudden
they're in And I know that sometimes it's finding a
needle in a haystack those people. But that's what you
have to do when you're advocating something for the foundation.
Let's talk, yeah, go ahead's and Rebecca, if you could
(23:52):
expand on that just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Now, this is all good.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I do recall though we did talk about in the
office day about the advocate how we're advocating for insurance coverage.
That seems to be a big hurdle actually making sure
that the drugs are covered, that people can get what
they need, and that their insurance or medicare can cover
(24:18):
those drugs that can help them, and just you know,
making policies that improve the access of healthcare and treatments.
So I think those two, yeah, areas are really critical.
And Maddie, you were going to jump in, sure.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
I'm going to add off of what you just said,
But our advocacy program is actually really focusing on step
and repeat, which is a whole program. An issue that
we're having with folks who have tri generic brand drugs
and who have to switch insurance for whatever reason. A
lot of people, I know, I've heard many stories from
individuals who, you know, they turned twenty six, they have
(24:57):
tried the drug they got diagnosed, like at twenty one
or even as a child, which you've now with price.
They turn twenty six, they get kicked off their parents'
insurance plan and they switch to a new insurance and
they're like, hey, we know that there's all this information
saying that this one drug didn't work for you or
did work for you, but we're going to go with
the generic brand because that's Schuper and we're going to
(25:18):
make you go through all that again. And so our
policy team is really really focusing statewide and federal wide
making sure that this does not happen for insurance companies
to be able to do that, just because that is
such and that's so much money as well. Yeople are
going through months of time and money and all that
stuff when they know what drugs work best for them
(25:40):
and it's proven in the data.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Yeah, well, I'm glad you both brought that up. And
I'm going to be very clear on my next statements.
This is not the ladies talking. This is me talking,
who has our right and has it since eighty seven.
It is appalling, appalling how much arthritis drugs are folks,
and I have great insurance, but if you look it
up on the inner net about what people take for
ra which I do, you would it would blow your
(26:04):
top how expensive these drugs are. It's embarrassing, is what
it is. But it is what it is. But thanks
to these two ladies and advocacy and all other things,
hopefully drugs will come down. Who knows, but it is expensive,
and it's just it's it's mind numbing. I just can't
begin to tell you how maddening it is in time,
but that's me talking about that somebody who's had it
(26:25):
for a very long time, and somebody who has to
go through insurance for medication. It's just unbelievable how much
arthritis drugs are. I did want to do this because
we only have about three minutes left, ladies, and maybe
just some final thoughts, So Maddie, maybe just a recap
and everything that you've talked about, just for like a
minute and a half and then we'll get some final
thoughts from Rebeca. If you could please, the floor is yours, sure.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
So everyone please come out to our Walk to Cure Arthritis.
We're super excited. It's going to be a really great
year again.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Those dates are going to be April twenty six at
the DC Wharf, PG County will be made third at
Eleanor Roosevelt in green Belt, Virginia, and then Frederick, Maryland
Walk will be May seventeenth at Baker Park and then
keep an.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Eye out for falls on our social media's our commitment
to a cure Gallas coming up in the fall.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
We have been works a lot of patient education programs
as well, hopefully, and jingle Ball Run will be in December.
We have not finalized those states yet, but they will
be for Metro DC area, Montgomery County and Solomon's Island, Maryland.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Thank you for all that. Let's do this. Let's give
the website, Let's give the helpline number, and also give
everybody your socials too so they can know how to follow.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
All right, So you can call our helpline at one
eight three seven eight zero zero to find our Walk
to Cure Arthritis Metro DC page. That's going to be
www dot events, dot arthritis dot org, slash event slash
WTCA Metro DC.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
And then our Facebook.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Page is at our Threatus Foundation DC Metro, and then
our Instagram page is our Threats Foundation Underscore Metro.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
DC Outstanding Rebecca. Some final thoughts from you.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, I will just say thank you again for having
us today. It's important that everyone has an opportunity to
hear what is available to them. And just a reminder,
you know, just here in the DC, Metro and southern
Maryland and Northern Virginia, there are one point one million adults,
(28:29):
you know, living with the disease, and ten thousand of
those are children. And we've met some lovely children along
the way and just so they're so grateful to be
connected with like minds and like you know, situations and
if nothing else, that gives them something to thrive, you know,
to thrive for and to a way to communicate, a
(28:53):
way for them to feel better and not feel alone.
And so this is what we're here for. And the
fun raising that you do some of these events that
Maddie shared today, help to pay for the research, help
to pay for the public policy and fund all of
those efforts so that the drug prices can come down
(29:15):
and they are available for everyone to use. And so
just anything you can do, anything we can do to
support you and your family, that's what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
And do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
And let us know how you're feeling, what kind of
support you need, and we will direct you. But again,
the toll free number is a great place to start.
The website, you can take your time and browse through.
It's a really well done website and it provides you
with anything you can imagine that you want to know.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Well, it's my pleasure, Rebecca Maddie. It's great to meet
you guys, and you'll be back on the show. You
can see I'm personally invested. But thank you so much
for joining us today on Community DC. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Thank you outs
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