I am cycling 4500 miles across North America in the summer of 2008 and you can learn more about my trip at Pedal Plenty.   So go on, donate a little something and help folks with arthritis.  

• If you are a citizen of the United States please donate here if you prefer.
  
• If you are a citizen of Canada please donate here if you prefer.
  

So why arthritis ?

My mum suffers from osteoarthritis and had both her hips replaced about twelve years ago. But more recently she started to have problems with her knees and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to go about her normal, day-to-day business like walking her two West Highland Terriers, doing the shopping and taking care of her garden. And then there were the elbow crutches and the walking stick - she was not impressed about being seen using them!

Then in September 2006 she got her bad knee replaced. I went to see her the day after the operation. She was in bed and looked a bit poorly the way people do after several hours under the knife but the next day, what a transformation. I walked in to the ward and there she was up, fully dressed and moving around with her walking frame. And she has gone on from strength to strength (with a lot of hard work on her part with physiotherapy and exercise).

It was so amazing to see my mum overcome her arthritis, ditch the elbow crutches and get back to walking Isla and Morven (the dogs) every day (at least twice!).