More than 500 walkers are participating in the 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis on May 20 at Cedar River Park in Renton to support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to cure arthritis and help people with arthritis live a full life.

Walk to Cure Arthritis brings together communities nationwide to fight arthritis — the nation’s leading cause of disability — which impacts 1.2 million Washingtonians, including 6,100 children, according to the foundation.

For the first time ever, with the support of Proliance Orthopedic Associates, the foundation is also bringing together specialists from across medical practices for a free health fair. Participants will have access to rheumatologists, nutritionists, acupuncturists, physical therapists, medical professionals from POA, and more.

The goal of the walk this year is to raise $55,000 to find a cure for the disease.

In the U.S., more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children live with arthritis, according to the foundation. Costing the U.S. economy $156 billion dollars a year, arthritis affects one in five Americans and causes more activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

Nationally sponsored by Amgen, locals can register for the Puget Sound Walk to Cure Arthritis and learn more about the event by visiting www.walktocurearthritis.org/pugetsound or contacting Sheila Cline at 206-547-2707 (ext. 108).