Arthritis Foundation South Africa (AFSA) launched its fundraiser event on August 29 at Wanderers Club.
Author Jenine Lazarus was the guest speaker at the event and explained how she had to show up despite her lupus diagnosis.
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Lazarous recently published a book, Bait: To Catch a Killer, a True Crime Memoir which was inspired by her experience as a Sunday Times journalist covering a serial killer and rapist. She is also the director of a media consultancy company.
The AFSA’s client liaison officer, Nadine Lemmer, said, “we usually have lectures on an ongoing basis, and we invite arthritis patients only and a guest speaker who is a doctor to address the crowd. Today, Jenine was our guest speaker and we extended the invite to other members of the public to join in.”
Lemmer added that she was happy with the outcome and how successful the event turned out.
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The AFSA is committed to its mission and vision of ensuring a better life for all affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).
Colette Braudo, who has been part of the AFSA for a few years, said she joined to learn about other types of arthritic conditions.
“I was born with a congenital condition which is hereditary and called arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, which is a muscle and joint deformity that affects tendons. I cannot put my hands on my shoulders, and my muscles are less developed meaning I am naturally weaker than other people.”
Braudo added that she was lucky because she did not experience pain. Her thumb and fingers were fused and had surgery done to separate them at 18 months old.
“I also have a club foot and my heel does not touch the ground. I was born with a club foot and had pigeon feet but had surgery to fix it.”
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