WHO: 

The Arthritis Foundation’s Annual Tribute to Excellence event will honor the men and women in the armed forces who proudly protect our nation in times of war and peace. Please join us as we pay tribute to those Americans who have served and sacrificed for our country.

WHAT: 

Tribute to Excellence Dinner ~ A cocktail reception and dinner followed by program presentation ~ The evening will also feature an auction and entertainment.

WHEN: 

Thursday November 8, 2012 from 6:30 pm
   ~(VIP Reception 6:00 pm)~

WHERE: 

Royal Park Hotel
600 East University Drive
Rochester, MI 48307

WHY:

 As our nation’s soldiers return from multiple deployments, they face many challenges; not the least of which is arthritis. Much to the surprise of many, osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability and medical discharge in active service members under the age of 40. In addition to these young men and women facing a life of the pain and challenges brought on by the debilitating affects of Osteoarthritis, their Veteran colleagues over the age of 40 are twice as likely to develop arthritis as civilians.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Wenzke would sit for hours, hunched over the five-ton truck’s window, scanning for hints of bombs along Iraq’s garbage-lined roadways. The truck – reinforced with heavy armored plates that had ruined its suspension – motored over crater-sized potholes, and Wenzke’s spine would feel every jolt. His body armor, weighing 50 to 60 pounds, added to the strain. “Convoy forays like this lasted from three to 30 hours,” he said, “depending on the number of breakdowns and firefights.”
“By the time we got back,” he said, “I’d be bent over and hobbled like I was an old man of 50 or 60.”

Since his yearlong deployment in 2006, Sgt. Wenske has suffered from degenerative osteoarthritis in his spine, for which there is no cure.

He is 29 years old.

Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability, costs the US economy $148 billion annually, and significantly impacts America’s veterans for their lifetime. Please join the Arthritis Foundation as we honor our military forces and raise critical funds to support programs, services and research into the prevention, control and cure of arthritis.

RESERVATIONS: 

Individual reservations are $300 per person
Individual Patron reservations are $500 per person

CONTACTS: 

Michelle Glazier
(248) 530-5022
FAX:  (248) 649-2895
mglazier@arthritis.org

Mary Sue Lanigan
(248) 530-5023
FAX:  (248) 649-2895
mslanigan@arthritis.org

SPONSORSHIP OPPORUNITIES: 

Click here for more information.

CURRENT SPONSORSHIPS: 

Click here to see our current event sponsors.