FORGET WHETHER YOU’RE A RED OR A BLUE- ITS ASRA UTD. YOU WANT TO BE CHEERING FOR!
Last week, I had the fortune to come across an article in the Hastings Observer, relating to a new support group specifically for those people suffering with a form of arthritis known as Anklyosing Spondylitus (AS) and found out some facts that really made me sit up and take notice.
Did you know that there more people in the UK that suffer with Ankylosing Spondylitus than MS? However very few people have actually heard of it as there is a great deal of ignorance about the condition among doctors and the public alike, with sufferers often seen as people with a ‘bad back’.
In fact, Ankylosing Spondylitus causes the joints of the spine to fuse together and affects many other joints in the body. Sufferers often end up with a curved back which does not flex at all, known as bamboo spine. AS also affects the heart, eyes and other parts of the body, as well as causing debilitating bouts of chronic fatigue which impact upon everyday lives and families.
Kevin Andrews (pictured above) has suffered with AS since he was a child and in 2010 set up a support group in East Sussex to help others affected by the condition. Now he has ASRA United which we can all support by going to www.asrautd.org . This online forum is for fellow sufferers and aims to give those like him the opportunity to share their own experiences and get support from each other. It is a welcoming and friendly site (as I have personally experienced!) and also invites friends and families to join in order that they can increase their understanding of the condition and learn how they can help.
The group is currently about 80 strong and is growing all the time. On viewing it I was struck by the genuine warmth exhibited between users. They have first-hand experience of what it’s really like to have this condition and are readily available to help and support. Often just someone taking the time to listen to you is all it takes to feel a little comfort.
If you suffer from or know some-one that has AS, direct them to the forum. We wish Kevin and all those involved with the site the very best of luck with it. It’s great to see people ready to put themselves out there and take positive action to tackle their condition, and if we can do our bit to help support them, all the better.
For further support, you can also contact the National Ankylosing Spondylitus Society (NASS)
For further support, you can also contact the National Ankylosing Spondylitus Society (NASS)
