There’s an old adage that says, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” That’s especially true for Amy Brown of Lakeland, since saying “yes” seems to be second nature for her. Amy just finished the school year as president of the PTA for Lawton Chiles Middle School, she volunteers at her church, and spent four years as a Girl Scout leader.

Despite all her commitments, Amy also volunteered to be the 2006 Arthritis Walk Chair for Polk County.

“My daughter Hunter, and I had participated as individual walkers for the last three years, Amy said. “I wanted to see if we could grow the Polk County Arthritis Walk and get more people involved.

For Amy, the reasons were deeply personal. Hunter, age 12, has three overlapping rheumatoid diseases including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, a skin and muscle inflammation and vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.

“Hunter was five when she began complaining of pain,” Amy said. “Since she was so young it was hard to get her to tell us more. She just said she hurt all over. She cried a lot and it got to the point where she wasn’t sleeping or eating.”

According to Amy, Hunter’s health began to deteriorate rapidly. In a period of less than a month, this 40-pound child lost 15 pounds and just touching her skin caused her enormous pain.

“She was so skinny, we could see all her bones,” Amy said. “It was very scary. Her stomach hurt so much it would take us all day just to get one third of a small can of a nutritional drink down her.”

Hunter’s diagnosis was a surprise to Amy because she didn’t know that children could get arthritis or the related diseases that Hunter suffers from. One of the biggest challenges for her in dealing with a chronically ill child is maintaining a balance in everyday life.

“Hunter has an older brother,” Amy said. “Now that he’s 15, Austin understands a lot more. But when you’re a young child, it’s difficult seeing your sister getting all of Mom’s and Dad’s time and attention.”

Austin and the entire family also have to deal with the reality that Hunter, who can be fine one day, can have a severe flare-up of her disease the next. This means that activities or trips often have to be cancelled at the last moment.

“What’s really helped is being able to meet other parents who have children with arthritis through the Arthritis Foundation, All Children’s Hospital and Camp Boggy Creek,” Amy said. “Knowing that you’re not the only one going through this and being able to talk about all the issues we parents have to deal with means a lot.”

With Mom at the helm of the Arthritis Walk, Hunter took on her own responsibilities and formed an Arthritis Walk team. For her team named “Charging Towards a Cure,” she recruited family and friends, and teachers and classmates. By the time she was done, she had 45 teammates and raised $3385.

What this meant for Hunter is that, for the first time, Hunter’s classmates learned about the struggles she faces. Hunter made speeches at school and was interviewed on her school’s television show.

“Before, Hunter sometimes felt uncomfortable using the elevator at school,” Amy said, “because the kids didn’t understand why she didn’t take the stairs. Now people she doesn’t even know stop to ask her how she’s feeling.”

But, Hunter didn’t stop at recruiting at her own school. Hunter’s brother Austin had a classmate, Ali Cahalan, who had developed juvenile arthritis when both she and Austin were in fifth grade. Hunter approached Ali and got her interested in forming an Arthritis Walk team too.

And that’s when Lakeland High School got involved. Amy spoke to both Ali’s leadership and sciences classes and told them how they could help. They didn’t disappoint her. Eighty-eight classmates and teachers joined Ali’s team, named “All for Ali” and raised more than $2700.

To add to the day’s festivities, Lakeland High School’s drum corps and cheerleaders also performed at the Walk.

“What made this year’s Arthritis Walk so special to me was the participation of the young people. It was wonderful seeing them all out there on Walk Day,” Amy said.

Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter -  ”What a dollar buys”

$400 sends a child with arthritis to a week of specialized summer camp.

$1500 pays for a year of arthritis clinic visits for a medically indigent patient with arthritis.

$300 trains a volunteer to teach an arthritis class in their community.

$5 sends information on treatment options to a newly diagnosed person with arthritis.

$35,500 funds a research fellowship for one year.