The Arthritis Foundation has named University of Texas and Pro Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell as its 2014 Official Hero of the Texas Walk to Cure Arthritis Series.
Campbell will support the foundation’s events in Austin on April 26, Dallas-Fort Worth on May 3, Houston on May 3 and San Antonio on May 17.
There are more than 130 walks across the nation in recognition of National Arthritis Month in May. The events unite major Texas cities to put an end to arthritis, a chronic disease that affects 53 million adults in the U.S. and 4 million Texans.
The walks include family festivities, food, entertainment and a pet-friendly environment.
“Earl has a huge heart for Texas communities, and it’s only fitting as one of the state’s leading sports legends that he join the Arthritis Foundation to help spread the word about the impact arthritis has on so many people by sharing his own personal experience,” said Susan Carter, CEO of the Arthritis Foundation South Central Region.
Throughout his football career, Campbell was always known for his ability to sustain a hit. And while this led to amazing success — first as a linebacker in his early playing days and later as a running back at John Tyler High School, the University of Texas and the Houston Oilers — the punishment his body received on the field ultimately took its toll.
Since retiring from football in 1985, Campbell, now 58, has suffered from severe osteoarthritis in his knees, feet and back. He’s gone through more surgeries than he can count, including two knee replacements.
But looking on the bright side, he says that he hasn’t been sidelined by arthritis. Thanks to new medications and regular workouts in the UT weight room, Campbell has ditched his wheelchair and now has real hopes of playing nine holes of golf again.
“Arthritis is terribly misunderstood,” Carter said. “No one talks about it, and most just shrug it off as something inevitable that happens as they age. We need people to understand the impact arthritis has on the young and old alike, and there’s no one better to command an ear than Earl Campbell.”
Run or go ‘All Out’
The Trinity Trust has two events Saturday, the Trinity River Levee Run and All Out Trinity.
Anyone can enter 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun runs, and registration ranges from $35 to $50. The race will start on the west side of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, cross the bridge to the east, head north on Riverfront Boulevard and wind through the Dallas Design District before returning across the bridge.
You can also spend the day at All Out Trinity, an outdoors and fitness festival from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. “on, below and near” the Hill Bridge. It will include health, sports and fitness activities, a marketplace by the river, beer and food trucks.
