Tina Wesson Uses Personal Experience With RA to Bring Awareness Of the Disease to the Forefront

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 5, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Tina Wesson has proven that she is the ultimate survivor on the hit reality-TV series: "Survivor: The Australian Outback." However, six weeks in the Outback was not nearly as challenging as her private battle with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As the national spokesperson for the "Survive and Succeed" educational program, Tina will be speaking at a local seminar to empower those with RA to live active, healthy lives, and proactively manage their disease. The seminar, sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter and Centocor, Inc., will take place at the Adam's Mark Philadelphia, City Avenue and Monument Road, on Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m.

"Managing your RA effectively includes taking the right medication, but it's also about proper diet, exercise, and making healthy lifestyle choices," said Tina Wesson. "That's why I'm here. I want people living with RA to know that they can control their disease, and not have the disease control them."

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans. It is a chronic, often painful disease characterized by joint inflammation, usually beginning in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet. The disease affects women more often than men. Initial RA symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. As the disease progresses, joints usually become more swollen, inflamed, and stiff. When inflammation persists or does not respond to treatment, it can destroy nearby cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments, leading to permanent disability.

"Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease, and how you cope with RA plays an important role in successfully managing the disease," said Vikki Lassiter, Vice President of Health Education and Program Development, Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. "We want patients and their families to leave the seminar with information, support and inspiration that will enable them to seek the right healthcare team and effective treatments," says John Klippel, M.D., Medical Director of the Arthritis Foundation.

If you or a loved one living with RA would like to attend the seminar, please call toll-free: 1-888-515-2396. If you are unable to attend the seminar and would like further information on RA, please call the toll-free national hotline for "Survive and Succeed" at 1-800-707-8344 or visit the Arthritis Foundation's web site at http://www.arthritis.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Arthritis Foundation efforts focus on increasing awareness, education, advocacy and research. The Arthritis Foundation currently provides more than $28 million in grants to more than 300 researchers to help find prevention measures, better treatment and ultimately a cure. The Arthritis Foundation's sponsorship of research for more than 50 years has resulted in major treatment advances for most forms of arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation works with a variety of organizations and companies in educational efforts to increase knowledge about arthritis and to help people take greater control of its impact. Collaborative educational efforts do not imply that the Arthritis Foundation endorses or recommends any particular product, medication or treatment. The Foundation encourages a comprehensive treatment program tailored to individual needs through discussion with a physician.

About Centocor

Centocor is a leading biopharmaceutical company that creates, acquires and markets cost-effective therapies that yield long-term benefits for patients and the healthcare community. Its products, developed primarily through monoclonal antibody technology, help physicians deliver innovative treatments to improve human health and restore patients' quality of life. Centocor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the worldwide manufacturer of healthcare products.

    CONTACT:  Jessica Clachko               Colleen Minden
              Ruder Finn                    Ruder Finn
              212-593-6355                  212-715-1695
              clachkoj@ruderfinn.com        mindenc@ruderfinn.com
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SOURCE Arthritis Foundation; Centocor

Jessica Clachko, +1-212-593-6355, clachkoj@ruderfinn.com, or
Colleen Minden, +1-212-715-1695, mindenc@ruderfinn.com, both of Ruder Finn

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