It was a few hours before the 2008 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk was to start. It was warm and sunny in the early morning hours with rain not expected to start until sometime in the afternoon.

Several volunteers were still trying to wake up. Trucks started rolling in with tables, chairs and large bottles of water. The volunteers started to scramble, unloading the trucks, setting up the tables and chairs, and putting up signs on the site and around the walk route. The DJ arrived with his equipment and soon popular tunes filled the air. Once the volunteers and sponsors setup the display tables, we were ready for the walk.

The walkers started arriving about an hour before the actual walk was scheduled to start. They were excited to turn in the money they had raised, receive their Arthritis Walk t-shirt, view all of the sponsor displays, get something to eat and drink, and find out how they could get even more involved with the Arthritis Foundation.

Just before the walk started, the volunteers and sponsors were thanked for their participation, the junior hero and dog hero were introduced (yes , dogs get arthritis too), and a representative from the local YMCA led the walkers in a warm up exercise.

Then they were off! The junior hero started the walk. The route allowed a choice of walking one mile or three miles. The route circled the campus of Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Ice cream was available to everyone at the conclusion of the walk. Several door prizes were given away and a new campaign was announced called Let’s Move Together.

Everyone had fun. I can’t wait to get started on the planning for next year’s walk.

The Arthritis Walk is an annual event that raises funds and awareness for the important work the Arthritis Foundation. They support the 46 million people in the U.S. who suffer from arthritis. Go to LetsMoveTogether.org for more information about getting involved with an Arthritis Walk in your area and to discover the health benefits of being active daily.