Arthritis Foundation Launches PSAs

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Arthritis Foundation Launches PSAs

The Arthritis Foundation has launched its first nationwide PSA campaign to

raise awareness of the nation's number one cause of disability. " Letters

from 43 Million Americans " is designed ³not only to awaken Americans to the

fact that arthritis is an escalating public health epidemic, but also to

promote the many resources available to help those who suffer take better

control of their disease.² The campaign depicts a variety of people with

arthritis and dispels the myths that arthritis is not serious and only

affects the elderly. The television, radio, print and outdoor/billboard PSAs

all portray the " voice " of a real person with arthritis. Print PSAs feature

hand-written letters from people, such as Bob from Michigan, who had

to give up his job because arthritis made it too painful to work with his

hands. The radio and television PSAs feature the story of

Fleckenstein, a 10-year-old Californian with juvenile arthritis, who cannot

participate in everyday childhood activities such as playing sports, riding

bikes or writing.