MPs pad up to bowl out arthritis

4 February 2015

MPs pad up to bowl out arthritis

Members of Parliament will be padding up for a charity cricket match in support of Arthritis New Zealand this Monday 9 February at Wellington’s Kelburn Park.

The parliamentary team, aptly named the ‘Woodhouse Wonders’, will be captained by former Parliamentary Friends of Arthritis facilitator Hon Michael Woodhouse. His team will include new facilitator Dr Shane Reti and MPs from across the house. They will face the ‘Arthritis Allstars’, which will include corporate sponsors and Arthritis friends, including John ‘Mystery’ Morrison and Ewen (the Naenae Express) Chatfield. The umpire will be New Zealand’s Derek Walker, who recently umpired a match against Pakistan.

“Arthritis New Zealand is grateful that MPs are taking time out of their busy schedule to help us bowl out arthritis,” Arthritis New Zealand Chief Executive Sandra Kirby said today. “Not only will this match help us to raise awareness of arthritis – a condition that affects 578,000 New Zealanders – but it will demonstrate the importance of physical activity in keeping mobile.”

The ten overs per innings match will commence at 2.00 pm. Alternative arrangements have been made for wet weather.

Arthritis New Zealand is the national organisation focused on raising awareness of the more than 140 different forms of arthritis, advocating for those with the condition, and providing advice and support.

About Arthritis New Zealand

• Arthritis New Zealand is a national organisation whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of people who are affected by arthritis.
• There are 578,000 New Zealanders living with arthritis. That is about one in six.
• 1,000 of them are children.
• There are more than 140 different forms of arthritis. The most common are osteoarthritis (OA), gout and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In New Zealand, there are over 300,000 people living with OA, about 120,000 living with gout, and about 40,000 living with RA.
• Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in our country.
• There is no cure for arthritis, but it can usually be managed, and most people with arthritis can continue to lead productive and fulfilling lives
• Arthritis can affect anyone, at any age, at any time.
• There are 17,940 people receiving sickness or invalids benefits as a result of musculo-skeletal conditions, the bulk of which will be arthritis.
• People with arthritis are 5% less likely to be employed than those without arthritis, based on New Zealand Health Survey data.
• Over 25,000 New Zealanders did not work in 2010 due to arthritis, costing around $1.48 billion in lost productivity
• Arthritis New Zealand receives only 12 per cent of its funding from government agencies. Without the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to help those who live with the pain of arthritis every day.
• Arthritis New Zealand is the leader in the provision of awareness, education, services and advocacy for arthritis in New Zealand.

ENDS

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