HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS
Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri receives $75,000 Grant

	St. Louis---The Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri Chapter received a $75,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health in January 2003.  This grant funding will be used over a two-year period to provide arthritis programs and services to the medically underserved in the Eastern Missouri Chapter area.  The Eastern Missouri Chapter covers the eastern two-thirds of Missouri.  

	"We are thankful for this funding," said Brenda Arndt, Director of Prevention, Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri Chapter, "Many people will greatly benefit from the programs the grant will fund."

	Specifically, the grant funding will be used to provide durable medical equipment, pharmaceutical assistance for arthritis drugs and scholarships for Arthritis Foundation programs.  The funding will also expand Arthritis Foundation programs and classes such as the Arthritis Self-Help Course, the People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) land exercise program, the Aquatics program and the new Tai Chi program in medically underserved areas in the chapter area.  

	The Eastern Missouri Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation serves 65 counties in Missouri.  The chapter serves as the Eastern Missouri Regional Arthritis Center, a program of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for 11 counties including the St. Louis metropolitain area.  To learn more about any of the programs listed above or for other information concerning the over 100 different forms of arthritis and arthritis related diseases  contact the Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri Chapter call  (314) 991-9333 or toll free at 800-406-2491.  For more information go to www.arthritis.org.