By Erika Fleegle

The Arthritis Foundation of Western Pennsylvania will host their annual Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at Allegheny Commons East Park in the Northside.

The signature event will feature a three-mile and a one-mile course with arthritis information and activities for the whole family. While teams and individuals are being registered and checked in, a health and wellness fair will kick off the day at 8 a.m., with the actual walk beginning at 10 a.m. Sally Wiggin will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies with Mary Chester Wasko, MD, MSc, Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Greg Brown, and Samantha Sharpe taking the places of medical, adult, and child honorees respectively.  Dr. Wasko, an internationally renowned clinician and researcher, has dedicated her career to the care of patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases, with a special focus on rheumatoid arthritis. She is the Director of the Division of Rheumatology and a Professor of Medicine at the Allegheny Health Network. Sharpe, who was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Arthritis at a very young age is honored to be this year’s Pittsburgh Child Honoree. She and the rest of her team, Samantha’s Royal Walkers, will participate throughout the event to ensure that no child will suffer from arthritis in the future.

Funds raised by the walk will better the lives of those suffering from arthritis by giving them access to the critical medications necessary to live full, healthy lives as well as research and cure development efforts.

On-street parking for the event, as well as some parking lot space, will be available. Though there will not be any road closures, several officers will be in place directing traffic.

Registration for the Walk to Cure Arthritis is still open. To register, donate, or learn more, check out the Arthritis Foundation of Western Pennsylvania’s website.