Local raises money for arthritis research

For Stephanie Sophocleous, running is something that got a little bit harder after being diagnosed with Seronegative Arthritis.

“I was out for a run one day and when I got back, I was in a whole lot of pain,” she explained. “I didn’t know what was going to happen in the next few years so I just really wanted to do something.”

So, Sophocleous has decided to do her part in helping raise awareness and money for arthritis research by running in a half-marathon this December in Barbados as part of The Arthritis Society’s Joints in Motion.

To take part she has to raise $5,600 and she’s almost there thanks to many supportive friends, family and businesses.

“I’ve got about $1,475 to go,” she said.

While Sophocleous has always enjoyed running one or two times a week, she stepped up her training and even hired a personal trainer to help strengthen her muscles so she can run further.

“The Arthritis Society has a personal trainer to help people go forward and want to do this,” she said, “but the personal trainers are in Calgary... so I’ve actually hired Maryam Hamdi (a local personal trainer) and she’s been getting me stronger so I can run further distances.”

Obviously dedicated to the cause and the run, Sophocleous has upped her regime and is running four times a week for about ten kilometres.

For the 25-year old, the half marathon isn’t about coming first, though she does hope to complete the run in about three or four hours. Instead, it’s about knowing she can run the distance despite her condition.

“There is placing and stuff like that, but that’s not my goal. I basically just want to be able to do it,” she said adding, “it’s just to know that I did do that.”

“About five years ago, I couldn’t even walk,” she said.

Born in Nova Scotia, Sophocleous was first diagnosed with Seronegative Arthritis in 2004. She describes Seronegative Arthritis as a “classification given to joint conditions with similar features to rheumatoid arthritis” but without the “mirroring affect”. Thus, she has arthritis in the toe of her left foot, and in the heal of her right foot, and in one thumb but not the other.

“I was having some problems with my feet and when I went to the doctor they were kind of unsure what was going on,” she said noting that the pain would come and go. After deciding to go to Thailand with her now husband, Sophocleaous became terribly sick six weeks in and had to be hospitalized.

“When I came back I could barely walk - well I could walk but it was just very painful. It was like walking on glass,” she added.

Since then, the Jasperite has been on some “pretty powerful medication” that have a variety of side effects and impact on her life. “I’ve been on a few medications in the last five years and they’re really hard on your system, and I’m young you know, maybe in 20 years, the one I’m on now isn’t going to help me.”

But running isn’t the only exercise as she also teaches yoga at Jasper Open Yoga and takes part in classes at least two times a week as well.

“If you don’t use it, you loose it, right? It’s (yoga) been pretty helpful with me.”

While Sophocleous is just one of 4.5 million Canadians who suffer from arthritis, her grandmother also suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Diagnosed at 53-years-old, she is Sophocleous’ ‘hero’ for the race. All participants in the race are asked to name a ‘hero’, which is someone with arthritis that they will run for.

For anyone wishing to help Sophocleous make it to Barbados and complete her half-marathon, you can sponsor her through The Arthritis Society’s website, or contact her at steph_sophocleous@hotmail.com.