To celebrate the World Arthritis Day theme ‘Move to Improve' NASS branches, members and supporters stretched for NASS on or as near to World Arthritis Day, Wednesday 12 October 2011 and helped to:
- Reinforce the importance of exercise for AS
- Promote the NASS branch network; and
- Raise the profile of AS
A total of 33 events took take place for World Arthritis Day including a Westminster Stretch opposite the Houses of Parliament. Visit the World Arthritis Day Gallery to view images of all the stretches that took place.
We also stretched a little bit further to raise funds for a new Branch Development and Support fund for our network of branches that provide regular hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions for people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) around the UK. The sessions are supervised by a physiotherapist and provides support from other people with the same condition. Every year NASS provides 60,000 hours of hydrotherapy and physiotherapy through its 83 active branches that are supported by 120 physiotherapists. Two new branches opened in Frimley and in Leicester this year. To make a donation please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/stretch4nass.
As the theme, 'Move to Improve' , remains the same for next year's World Arthritis Day 2012 , look out for the return of 'Stretch for NASS' near you.
Image courtesy of NASS Tyne & Wear - Stretch for NASS, 10 October 2011