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Arthritis Australia official charity of 2008 Bathurst Motor Festival |
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Sunday, 02 December 2007 |
Organisers of the WPS Bathurst Motor Festival are pleased to announce
Arthritis Australia will continue as the Festival’s official charity
for the 2008 event.
Arthritis Australia is the peak arthritis organisation in
Australia. It is supported by affiliate offices in every state and
territory.
With nearly one in five Australians now suffering from a form of
arthritis the condition directly affects more than 18.5 percent of the
population and can indirectly affect their businesses, colleagues,
friends and family.
Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in
Australia, with 3.85 million Australians affected at a cost to our
economy of more than $23.9 billion each year in medical care and
indirect costs such as loss of earnings and lost production.
Emotionally and socially, the hidden costs of arthritis are
immeasurable.
As the population ages, the number of people with arthritis is
growing. According to leading researcher Access Economics, current
trends suggest that, by 2050, 7 million Australians will have some form
of arthritis.
There is a widely held belief that arthritis is simply a
consequence of age, the pain of growing old. But it is not a natural
part of ageing. In fact 62 percent of all people living with the
disease are of working age and it can also occur within children.
It is hoped that the WPS Bathurst Motor Festival can further raise
the awareness of arthritis across the country while assisting to raise
funds for Arthritis Australia.
“Arthritis is a condition which affects millions of people across
Australia, many of whom are people of the age who will be coming to the
WPS Bathurst Motor Festival to appreciate the motor racing heritage in
Australia,” said Event Director James O’Brien.
“We are delighted to welcome back Arthritis Australia as our
official charity for the 2008 WPS Bathurst Motor Festival and will be
working with them throughout the next few months and across the event
to assist in raising the awareness and donations while also offering
discounted tickets for members of the organisation.”
Arthritis Australia relies on the generosity of community groups,
individuals and corporate sponsors for most of its funding. The
association is looking forward to working with organisers of the WPS
Bathurst Motor Festival to raise awareness of the condition.
"We are thrilled to be the official charity for the 2008 WPS
Bathurst Motor Festival after such a successful 2007 running of the
Festival," said Arthritis Australia's CEO Ainslie Cahill.
"To be on board with such a well-run Event enables us to reach a
new audience and continue raising awareness, which is really exciting
for everyone here at Arthritis Australia."
The 2008 WPS Bathurst Motor Festival will be held at Mount Panorama
on February 8-10, incorporating the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour on Sunday
February 10.
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