AN upcoming health forum is intended to arm arthritis patients with the most up-to-date knowledge about how to protect themselves from heart attacks, strokes and blood clots and how to live a longer, healthier life.
Roar 2013 (Reaching Out with Arthritis Research) is an annual public education event presented by the consumer advisory board associated with the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada. The centre is dedicated to improving the lives of people with arthritis through research and the advisory board takes an active role in arthritis research decision-making by offering personal insight into the needs that exist for patients, and acts as a bridge between the researchers and the general public.
"The overall goal of the event is to disseminate the latest knowledge on the latest research on arthritis," says West Vancouver resident Céline Pitre, a centre board member. Pitre, 59, who was diagnosed with osteoarthritis 10 years ago, will serve as the event's MC.
Roar has been held for the last eight years.
"The purpose of the event is to talk to people with arthritis, their support group, their family members, their friends, so that everyone can learn about the challenges of people living with arthritis," says Pitre.
The 2013 edition of Roar is being held Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 12: 15 p.m. at the Milan Ilich Arthritis Research Centre, 5591 No. 3 Rd., in Richmond. Community members interested in the topic, though unable to attend, are encouraged to view the live online webcast.
At this year's event, the centre's scientific researchers, including Drs. Antonio Avina, Diane Lacaille and John Esdaile, will speak about how inflammatory arthritis can cause heart attacks, strokes and blood clots, who is at risk, what preventative steps can be taken and how to make an action plan.
Organizers of Roar continue to receive positive feedback on the event, which is continuing to grow each year.
"People are usually dumbfounded with how straight-talking all of these experts are because the intention is to present the information in layman's terms so that everybody gets it," says Pitre.
Cost: $5 for in-person presentations/free for online webcast. Registration and info: arthritisresearch.ca/roar.
