Double our funds to fight the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK

Thursday, 01 December 2011

The Big Give Christmas Challenge, 5-9th December

One in six people live with the daily pain and suffering of arthritis, which affects people of all ages and is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK.  Arthritis rarely kills but it takes people’s lives away, preventing them from working and even doing simple things like going up and down stairs and making a cup of coffee.  The chances are, it will either affect you, or someone you know. 

For many living with arthritis, their only treatment is taking painkillers, which is why Arthritis Research UK is highlighting the urgent need to find a breakthrough.

Now you can help make double the difference. For a few days only, between 5-9th December, The Big Give Christmas Challenge is offering you a chance to double the value of your gift to help those living with arthritis. Donations made to Arthritis Research UK via the Big Give Christmas Challenge at the website below will be matched by the Challenge sponsor, pound for pound.

All the money raised through the Challenge will go towards the research taking place at the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in the University of Nottingham. The scientists are researching how pain is transmitted between the joints and the brain, in order to develop better pain relief for the millions of people suffering from arthritic conditions.

Dean Collier from Nottingham was 38 years old when he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis seven years ago. At the time he was working as a tram conductor and started suffering from pain in his right knee. As the pain from standing for long periods of time was unbearable, Dean was moved to driving the trams and later to an engineering role. However, the pain got so bad that Dean had to give up work. “I was at rock bottom at that point, it felt as though suffering from the pain had robbed me of my life”, he says.

“Initiatives such as the Big Give Christmas Challenge will not only raise vital funds for the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham, but also highlights the need for better pain management for millions of other people like me.”

The Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre Director, Professor David Walsh comments; “The Pain Centre has produced some really important discoveries in its first year. We’ve found out more about how nerves in the joint and cells in the spinal cord are activated as arthritis pain develops. The next four years will see us building on these strong foundations to deliver the results needed to transform understanding and treatment of arthritic pain.”

The charity is hoping to raise money towards the £500,000 it costs each year to fund the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham.

You can help to make a difference this Christmas by donating from 10am on Monday 5th December until 9th. Click here to donate.