The Alpha Omicron Pi sorority will be hosting their annual event Run for Roses on Saturday, March 28th beginning at 9 a.m.

This 5 k run or walk around Auburn’s campus will start in front of Toomer Hall on the Hill. And while running or walking the beautiful scenery of Auburn will be your guide.

“It is a 5 k, which is about a three mile run, around Auburn starting at Toomer’s, AOII’s dorm, at 9 a.m. in the morning. It is benefiting arthritis research and is a great cause,” said Jenny Sawyer, senior Alpha Omicron Pi.

Run for Roses is a philanthropic event benefiting arthritis research. Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. This disease is the leading cause of disability with adults older than fifity-five. Intense pain is the most recognizable symptom to arthritis. There are eight diagnosed primary types of arthritis including the common osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Alpha Omicron Pi has been able to provide research grants, which partially fund dozens of arthritis related projects.

In 2002, the Alpha Omicron Pi grants were used for the following:
-Pamela J. Degotardi, PhD, Schneider Children’s Hospital in New York, for “A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS).”
- Julie Babensee, PhD, Georgia Tech, for “Tissue Engineering for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Biomaterial Centered Approach for Controlling Dendritic Cell Phenotype.”
-Anna H. Plaas, PhD, U of South Florida, for “Anabolic Effect of Oral Glucosamine on Tissue Repair Following Injury.”

According to the Arthritis Foundation’s website, “Arthritis Research holds the key to tomorrow’s advances in preventing, controlling and curing arthritis and provides hope for a future free from arthritis for the 46 million men, women and children with doctor-diagnosed arthritis.”

Run for Roses is just one event helping with arthritis funding and research across our nation.

During the month of May, the national Arthritis Walk is held. This year’s theme of ‘Lets Walk Together’ thought of by the Arthritis Foundation. It was created with the idea to help people move to prevent or treat arthritis everyday.

The Juvenile Arthritis conference will be held in July in Houston, TX. This event is all about learning, connecting and sharing whether it be with the children and teen program, young adult program or the parent program.

To help raise more money for arthritis research, Alpha Omicron Pi is also hosting restaurant nights. On Tuesday, March 24th at Chick-Fil-A and Thursday, March 26th at McAllisters.

Registration for Alpha Omicron Pi’s Run for Roses is going on now until the day of the event for $17. This money goes to arthritis research but also a t-shirt, refreshments and entertainment after the run.

Alpha Omicron Pi representatives will be on the concourse this week, March 23rd through March 27th. They will be able to answer questions and also sign anyone up interested in the 2009 Run for Roses benefiting arthritis research.

“To get involved you can get one of our red fliers, fill it out and give it to any AOIIs or the day of the race you can come there as well,” said Sawyer.



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