According to the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc), more than seven million people in the UK have long-term health problems due to arthritis or a related condition. Arthritis is the second most common cause of time off work among both men and women. One child in every thousand has a childhood form of arthritis, belying the perception that it is a condition that only affects the elderly.

The Great Atlantic’s Charity Appeal on behalf of Arthritis Research

Michael Jay, founder and director of The Great Atlantic Galleries, has recently had both of his knee joints replaced due to osteoarthritis. Moreover, Mike’s mother suffered very badly from rheumatoid arthritis for almost 40 years and this ultimately led to her death in 1997.

To celebrate his return to fitness and to make a contribution towards finding the elusive cure to this group of painful and disabling diseases, Mike is planning to raise a significant sum of money for the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc).

On July 1st, he plans to walk, scramble (and, if necessary crawl) to the 14,491’ summit of Mt Whitney, the highest North American mountain outside Alaska. Mt Whitney lies towards the southern end of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountain chain that runs North-South along the eastern side of California. His solo ascent involves a 23 mile round trip walk with almost 7000’ of ascent from the Whitney Portal near the town of Lone Pine. Starting at 4 a.m., he hopes to be on the summit soon after noon and down safely before darkness falls. Mike spent a great deal of time in the 70’s and 80’s in the mountains of Britain and California and was last on the summit of Whitney in 1988. Needless to say he has been training hard!

Mt Whitney 14,491’

The fund raising campaign will take two forms. One will be via an approach to almost 6000 people on the gallery mailing list and visitors to The Great Atlantic Galleries. The other will involve an auction of small paintings donated by the many artists who exhibit at our galleries. Details of this auction may found at www.greatatlantic.co.uk/ arthritis-auction from June 20th.

Mike is keen to stress, that 100% of all money raised will go to the charity. The costs of printing, distribution, flights, ground transportation, food and accommodation will all have been met by the suppliers listed below.

Supported by:
The Great Atlantic Art Business Ltd
The Great Atlantic Trading Co. Ltd
Cornwall Litho Ltd
Greenwood & Wilson Accountants
Howard Smith Paper
Just Design
prworksnow
Managed Mailings
and made possible by the excellent exercise facilities at Cape Cornwall Golf and Country Club.

Thanks also to the many artists who have donated their work for our ‘arc’ fund raising auction.

arc is a Registered Charity: No. 207711