As we age, many of us suffer with the nagging pain of osteoarthritis, but arthritis isn't just a disease of the aged.

Eight year old Bailey Gizienski lives with arthritis every day of her young life.

Bailey's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis first appeared in her knee when she was three years old. After medication and therapy, she was able to resume normal childhood activities like running and her favorite, soccer.

Bailey's JRA is in remission, allowing her to live a normal life, but arthritis can flare up at any time and without warning. Rheumatoid arthritis can be severe, causing joint and tissue damage and chronic pain.

Bailey will be the Butler Honoree at this year's Western Pennsylvania Arthritis Foundation's Arthritis Walk, Saturday at 10 a.m. on the campus of Butler County Community College.

The noncompetitive walk raises money and awareness to fight a disease that affects more than 46 million men, women and children in the United States.

Kathi Finch of Arthritis Foundation's Western PA Chapter says that Bailey and her family have been great boosters for the event.

"They've really been getting the word out," Finch says. She expects more than 60 participants in this third annual Butler walk.

Because the Arthritis Walk is a noncompetitive event, people are free to take their time and enjoy the scenery of the Community College campus with friends. The course consists of three loops of the paved drive about campus. Participants may complete one loop for a mile or three circuits for 5K distance.

There's no entry fee for the event, but Finch says any and all donations toward educational programs and research into curing arthritis are accepted. In 2007 the Western PA Chapter contributed $700,000 toward arthritis research.

Registration for Saturday's Arthritis Walk opens at 9 a.m. for the official 10 a.m. start. Participants are invited to come early or stay after the event to talk with experts about arthritis. Printed information will also be available about rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, the two most common forms of the disease, as well as information about lesser known forms.

Butler's Arthritis Walk is one of more than 300 walks held nationwide during the months of May and June. Additionally, the Arthritis Foundation holds Jingle Bell 5K Runs in November and December to raise awareness and funds. Western Pennsylvania's 2008 Jingle Bell Run will be held Dec. 6 at North Park.

The national organization also raises millions of dollars to fight disease while helping people train for half or full marathons through their Joints in Motion program. Participants, 70 percent of whom are first time marathoners, can train for events in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii or Ireland with a real or virtual training group.

For more information about Butler's Arthritis Walk, call Kathi Finch at 412-566-1645, ext. 12 or email kfinch@arthritis.org. To register or donate online or to be a part of Team Bailey, visit www.arthritiswalkbutler08.kintera.org.

To find out more about arthritis or about Joints in Motion training, call 800-283-7800 or visit www.arthritis.org.

Week 8 of 8-Weeks to Fitness: Trial run.

You'll want to be comfortable on race day. Practice running in your race day clothes, everything from shorts and singlet down to socks and underwear. See you at the starting line.

Week 8Day 1: Walk 30 minutes.

Day 2: Walk 5 minutes. Run 15-18 minutes; walk 5 minutes.

Day 3: Walk 30 minutes.

Day 4: Walk 5 minutes. Run 5 minutes, walk 30 seconds. Repeat for 20-25 minutes. Walk 5 minutes.

Day 5: Walk 30 minutes or rest.

Day 6: Same as Day 5.

Day 7: Walk 5 minutes warm up. Run Butler Road Race 2k. Walk 5 minutes cooldown.Upcoming events:Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday: Twinboro 5K Run, Oakmont. Starts at Riverside Park. 412-826-1452 or www.twinboro5krun.comSaturday: Rachel Carson Challenge, Harrison Hills Park. Noncompetitive 34 mile hike on rugged trail. www.rachelcarsontrails.orgJune 25, 7 p.m.: Sharpsville 5K, Sharpsville. Third event in Smiley Miles Triple Crown. www.sharpsville5k.moonfruit.comJune 28, 8:30 a.m.: Middlesex Mad Dash 5K, Valencia. Starts at Middlesex Township Building. 724-473-1198June 28, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race 5 Mile Run and 2 Kilometer Run/ Health Walk, Butler. The big event in our town for 33 years. 724-284-4676 or butlerroadrace@butlerhealthsystem.orgJuly 2, 7 p.m.: Groundhog 5K Run/ Walk, Punxsutawney. 814-938-1008 or www.punxsutawneyphil.comJuly 4, 8 a.m.: Race for Virginia and Friends, Cranberry Township. 724-772-7499 or www.raceforvirginia.orgJuly 4, 8 a.m.: July 4th Race, Altoona. Choice of 15K, 10K, 5K or fun run. 814-695-4467 or laurandt@hollidaysburgareaymca.orgJuly 4, 9 a.m.: Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run, Brentwood. Out and back course, great post race party, discount for families of three or more. 412-882-5694.July 4, 9 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K, Hampton Township. Challenging course, post race party. loudangelo.comJuly 5, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10K, Ellwood City. Starts at Ewing Park. 724-752-1583July 5, 9 a.m.: Ford City Heritage Days 5K, Ford City. Run or walk through level downtown. 724-763-3986 or jsolak@iup.eduJuly 12, 8:30 a.m.: Cross Country Crusade 5K, Saxonburg. Cross country race on Knoch High School cross country course, first race in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comJuly 20, 8 a.m.: Thorn Hill County Line 5K Race, Cranberry Township. Run through Thorn Hill Industrial Park benefits area high school scholarships. 724-776-4949Race resultsFreeport Flash 5K, May 31: Chris Geddis, 1st Overall M, 17:17; Brad Cubbage, 2nd Overall M, 18:00; Sergei Dines, 3rd Overall M, 18:44; Kristen Prazenica, 1st Overall W, 21:34; Eric Geddis, 1st 16-19 M, 18:58; Tim Wyant, 1st 30-39 M, 19:16; Brian Forester, 2nd 30-39 M, 19:43; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-49 M, 19:55; Daniel Dines, 1st 12-15 M, 19:59; Kevin Keppel, 2nd 12-15 M, 20:16; Rich Makin, 1st 50-59 M, 20:26; Ethan Hacker, 3rd 12-15 M, 20:31; Jim Beck, 2nd 40-49 M, 20:33; Matt Hall, 2nd 16-19 M, 20:44; Richard Stewart, 3rd 40-49 M, 20:53; Cory Steinhagen, 1st 20-24 M, 21:42; Patrick Kerr, 2nd 50-59 M, 22:04; Chuck Sarver, 3rd 50-59 M, 22:17; Wendy Recio, 2nd 40-49 W, 23:18; Dorothy Moxie, 3rd 40-49 W, 23:45; Shannon Reesman, 2nd 20-24 W, 23:48; Matt Maxwell, 3rd 16-19 M, 23:53; Christine Marty, 1st 16-19 W, 24:08; Jacki Yingling, 1st 30-39 W, 24:37; Kayla Zboran, 1st 12-15 W, 24:38; Amy Formica, 2nd 30-39 W, 24:45; Bill Abbott, 3rd 60-69 M, 25:50; Kyrene Haynes, 3rd 16-19 W, 26:52; George Shirey, 2nd 25-29 M, 27:19; Nicole Miller, 2nd 12-15 W, 29:37; April Solomon, 2nd 25-29 W, 30:40; Sarah Haynes, 3rd 25-29 W, 30:44; Kenith Meissner, 1st 70+ M, 31:53; Marcia Semple, 1st 60-69 W, 32:18; Pat Wyant, 2nd 60-69 W, 35:25; Pat Wyant, 2nd 60-69 W, 35:25; Janet Bennett, 3rd 50-59 W, 41:20; Benjamin Kristine, 3rd 11 & Under M, 44:49; Stephen Hepler, 21:21; Joey Sadecky, 22:13; Jeffrey Yingling, 23:54; Larry Hall, 24:17; Sean Montgomery, 24:23; Ethan Fritz, 24:29; Zach Will, 24:31; Samson Wyant, 24:35; Tom Williams, 25:11; Carl Hill, 25:18; Marc Miller, 25:28; James Meehan, 25:31; Judy Keppel, 25:33; Lee Wagner, 25:43; Micci Hutterer, 25:53; Bryan Tague, 26:19; Colin Meehan, 26:20; Kyle Zboran, 27:50; Bryan Pavlina, 28:44; Andrew Cocker, 28:53; Holly Rougeaux, 29:16; Matthew Callihan, 29:17; Kim Zappi, 29:18; Barb Spreng, 29:29; Dan Miller, 29:40; Jason Gaillot, 29:55; Jessica Davis, 30:24; Tyler Long, 30:34; Lisa Moss, 30:38; Amy Trempus, 30:42; Syvia Maxwell, 30:54; Christina Winters, 30:59; Jessica Fix, 31:10; Lori Tirdel, 31:14; Julia D'Amico, 31:20; Beth Defilippi, 31:24; Glen Lang, 31:38; David McConahy, 31:42; Jim Fritz, 32:11; Tammy Sarver, 33:04; Debra Kuminkoski, 34:05; David Spreng, 38:56; Michael Volek, 39:35; Darlene Callihan, 39:36; Yvette Beck, 40:09; Ashtyn Neibar, 40:30; Travis Neibar, 40:31; Cindy Geary, 41:21; Kelly Anderson, 44:31; John Kristine, 44:54; Laurie Christie, 46:23; Craig Moss, 46:24; Michelle Gaillot, 51:37; Roshelle Fennell, 51:38Riverview 5K, June 6: Mark Andruzzi, 1st Overall M, 17:13; Bryar-Leigh Eli McClure, 1st OVeall W, 23:39; Michelle Choo, 2nd Overall W, 23:40; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 20:26; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-44 M, 20:52; Bob Cunningham, 1st 20-24 M, 20:55; Bob Pawlowski, 3rd 40-44 M, 22:12; Curt Grimm, 1st 55-59 M, 22:33; Cindy Grimm, 1st 55-59 W, 24:28; Nancy Bilger, 2nd 30-34 W, 28:09; Rob Welch, 1st 35-39 M, 29:26; Tyler William Crummy, 24:20; Adam Bilger, 25:57; Janet Allison, 48:45; Bruce Allison, 48:47Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.