12-year-old walks, skateboards for arthritis awareness

April 26, 2008

written by: Ben McKee , Community Relations Backpack Journalist

Last updated: 4/26/2008 11:07:49 AM

HIGHLANDS RANCH - By nature, skateboarding can be a painful sport. Concrete

doesn't make for the softest landing, and holding your balance on a

skateboard isn't too easy either.

Even without a fall, a few minutes on a skateboard can make the rest of the

day practically unbearable for Fernandez.

" It's like a sharp pain, like something is stabbing you, " said Fernandez.

" But it happens all over your body, over and over again. "

Fernandez, 12, is one of 300,000 juvenile Americans who suffer from a form

of arthritis. He discovered his condition after a heel injury never seemed

to go away.

" After we took the cast off, it just kept hurting, " said Fernandez. " We went

to my doctor and took all sorts of tests, and that's when I found out I had

juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. "

Fernandez says he had to stop rollerblading and start skateboarding to

relieve the pain in his heel. Not that skateboarding doesn't hurt 's

joints. He says it's a sacrifice he's willing to take to be able to hang out

with his friends.

" It gives me a chance to tell them about it, " said Fernandez. " I just told

my friend about it the other day, and he had no clue what arthritis was. "

Fernandez also volunteers with the Arthritis Foundation, speaking to adults

at gala events and leading the charge in the 2008 Arthritis Walk in

Highlands Ranch.

" It's fun, " said Fernandez. " I love bringing awareness to other people,

because everybody can get it. And not many people realize how serious it

really is. "

Recommended Posts