Achilles Walk for Hope in New York City to Benefit RSDA and other Diseases: Spend a Morning in Central Park and Help Others

Help those with RSD/CRPS at the
Achilles Walk for Hope and Possibility in NYC

Want to spend an enjoyable day in New York City and help others? The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) will be participating in the Achilles Walk for Hope and Possibility on June 26, 2016. This event helps to help make a difference in the lives of those affected by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (CRPS/RSD).

If you can't walk but want to help, you can help raise funds by sponsoring a walker. Visit http://rsds.org/



What is RSDA? Simply put, it is a rather rare condition, affecting about 200,000 people each year, in which the body processes pain signals incorrectly, making one feel pain when it is nothing painful. It may be caused by abnormal inflammation or nerve dysfunction, but researchers are aggressively studying it in the hopes of understanding it more and finding a cure.  It usually starts with a trauma to the body which causes the body to process pain signals differently.

As an example, to some with RSD, raindrops falling on one's arm feels like thumbtacks. A gentle breeze can also cause pain. RSD is a chronic disease often affected by weather. There is no cure, and sufferers are usually on medication daily to combat the pain, which can be every day or episodic. Different physical therapies, biofeedback exercises and other methods are used to bring comfort. Some suffer for years while for others it is a lifelong affliction. Some people do not achieve pain relief even with help and a small percentage of RSDA/CRPS pain sufferers will take their own lives. Learn more here:

 “Whether you are walking or cheering for a family member, the Achilles Walk is an incredible, powerful morning for everyone. People have come in a wheelchair one year and then returned and walked the 5-mile course a year later! Others participate virtually in their hometowns and raise much needed awareness. Don’t miss it” – Jim Broatch, Executive Vice President and Director of RSDSA

The Achilles Walk is one of the most significant fundraisers for RSDSA. Funds from this walk help RSDSA provide educational opportunities for people living with CRPS, their caregivers, and medical professionals. Funds also go towards providing support and hope to people affected by CRPS while RSDSA continues to be a driving force behind research for better treatments. The Achilles Walk is not only a crucial fundraising day, but a vital day of hope where people from all over the country are able to come together and walk in solidarity to battle CRPS. Many walkers are meeting other people like them for the very first time.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the people I’ve been talking to on Facebook for the last 2 ½ years. I’m also looking forward to meeting other people who have CRPS, whether they’re professionals or everyday people like me” -Andrea B. Join RSDSA on June 26, 2016 in New York City’s Central Park.

To join Team RSDSA for this event, visit https://www.firstgiving.com/rsds/2016-achilles-walk. 

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact RSDSA immediately. 

Help make a difference in the lives of those impacted by the pain caused by CRPS/RSD. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) is an international 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, based in Milford, Connecticut, formed in 1984. # # # If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Samantha Barrett at 508-942-2141 or email at SBarrett@rsds.org.

Editor's Note: This article was written in honor of Pamela Curry.