Western Missouri/Greater Kansas City Chapter
Susan Williams
Arthritis Volunteer Makes a Big Impact in a Short Time
Susan Williams got involved with the Arthritis Foundation to support the 12 year old daughter of a friend who was battling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. But the more she got involved, the more she met people of all ages who were impacted by different forms of the disease. “When I learned more about the toll that arthritis takes on so many people,” she shared, “I realized that there was much more that I wanted to do.” And much more she has done! Susan has participated in a variety of chapter fundraising events, from the Hero of the Year to the Arthritis Walk and the Jingle Bell Run. She became the chair of the Art for Arthritis committee in 2007 and helped lead that event to its best year yet.
Her enthusiasm and commitment was not overlooked as she was elected to the chapter Board of Directors a little more than a year ago and has helped the chapter expand its programming through an invitation to present a couple of different worksite programs on arthritis to her associates at DST. “DST has had a long history of supporting the Arthritis Foundation,” Williams explained, “and I was glad to help the chapter give back in a small way through a couple of excellent education programs for our associates with arthritis and their family members.”
She still enjoys involving her now 15 year old friend with arthritis in her chapter activities and is pleased how well she is able to combat her disease. “Treatment for people with arthritis is so much better than it was even just a few years ago, and I hope that the money that I help raise will someday lead to research breakthroughs that will prevent other young children from ever contracting the disease.”
