Walk to Cure Arthritis is Sunday, April 30 in Danbury

Walk to Cure Arthritis Welcomes Ridgefield’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta of Orthopaedic Specialists of Connecticut as Event Chair

Chuckie Namiot Of Ridgefield, diagnosed with Juvenille Arthritis in 2011, will show his Zest for Life at the Event

The Arthritis Foundation announced that Ridgefield-resident Sanjay Gupta, M.D. of Orthopaedic Specialists of Connecticut has been named the corporate chair of the 2017 Danbury Walk to Cure Arthritis, which will take place on Sunday April 30, 2107. As chair, Dr. Gupta will provide leadership in helping the event reach its fundraising goal of $75,000.

Dr. Gupta is a long-time Arthritis Foundation advocate and volunteer, and was chosen as the 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis chair because of his strong leadership skills, passion for helping others and dedication to removing the burden of arthritis from local communities.

“The majority of my day-to-day professional life is dedicated to helping people and their families deal with arthritic pain,” said Dr. Gupta.  “The pain of arthritis may not be visible but it is incredibly real and the # 1 cause of disability in America. More must be done to help.”

Chuckie Namiot, a 13 year old from Ridgefield deals with that pain on a daily basis.  He was first diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis in 2011 and will participate in the Walk to Cure Arthritis with his team named “Chuckie is Awesome.” Despite the daily challenges that he faces from his illness, he continues to show a zest for life that has always been his signature trait.  Even with the pain Chuckie endures, he is a driven competitor in sports.  Cycling has become his passion.  In 2014 he received a silver medal in the Connecticut State Time Trial.  In the past, he has been involved in youth wrestling and football.

Chuckie is known for his empathetic nature. Regardless of how his body feels, he would rather make others feel better than worry about himself. There is no doubt that trait will serve him well in the future when he plans to become a Pediatric Rheumatologist to help others like him.

The Arthritis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis is an annual, nationwide fundraising event focused on accelerating the search for a cure and building a better life for the 50 million Americans, including 300,000 children, living with this painful and debilitating disease. In Connecticut more than 663,000 adults and an estimated 3,400 children have arthritis – the nation’s leading cause of disability.

Dr. Gupta is an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopaedic Specialists of Connecticut and widely recognized as one of the top joint replacement surgeons in the state. He is currently the chief of orthopedics at Danbury Hospital. He completed a two-year fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and specializes in hip and knee disorders and joint replacement.  The physicians at Orthopaedic Specialists of Connecticut trained at the top hospitals and universities in the country. Recent data shows that they have the best surgical outcomes in the area. Dr. Gupta and his family reside in Ridgefield.

The Walk to Cure Arthritis is nationally sponsored by Amgen®.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation (Arthritis.org) is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. The Arthritis Foundation’s goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life – and making each day another stride towards a cure. The Foundation also publishes Arthritis Today, the award-winning magazine that reaches 4 million readers per issue.

Photo:  Dr. Sanjay Gupta

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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