Michelle Dallyn and Caroline Perrin have planned to take part in the Arthritis Society of Canada Joints in Motion Machu Picchu trek since last year. Now they’re getting busy with training and fundraising.
“I don’t think a lot of people talk very much about arthritis but it can affect every part of a person’s daily life,” said Dallyn.
She and Perrin have been getting themselves ready with yoga and will be doing more strenuous training soon. Working with their theme, Why Not?, they have planned the Why Not? — Shake Your Body!! Dance for March 12.
Liz Bussey, a laser technician with North Okanagan Skin and Laser, was happy to donate a gift certificate for an underarm and bikini laser treatment for the silent auction. She was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis when she was 18 months old.
“My mom and I have always donated to the Arthritis Society. I was lucky that my mom was a physio and she recognized my symptoms soon. I had to wear braces, some interesting-looking shoes and miss a lot of school when I was a child and take a lot of medication that had long-term effects. I’m mostly better now but I know ahead of time when there is going to be a big weather change because of how I feel,” she said.
Perrin hopes the fundraising activities and the fitness challenge coming up at the end of April will raise awareness about the many kinds of arthritis and what is being done to help people.
“Older people especially, and other people, think it’s just a part of getting older and they may not know what is available and may not be getting as much help as they should,” she said.
Dallyn and Perrin will join a team going to Machu Picchu Aug. 3 to 11 to raise awareness and funds for the Arthritis Society. They will pay all their own expenses and all the funds they raise go to the Arthritis Society for research, education, programs and services. For more information and to support Perrin and Dallyn see www.arthritis.ca.
The Why Not? Shake Your Body!! dance takes place March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Elks Hall in Vernon. The band is MACE. There will be a silent auction, door prizes and late night snacks. Tickets are $20 each, available at The Bean Scene and Interior Gift Gallery. For more information call 250-540-9770.
