TicketsMarch 27, 2008
CINCINNATI--University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly is set to serve as the featured guest speaker at the Arthritis Foundation's C on April 3 at the Kingsgate Marriott.
The foundation will be honoring former All-American and UC alumnus Ken Byers as the first recipient of the Commitment to a Cure Award. Byers spent four years in the National Football League with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings from 1962-65.
Cincinnati's football program opens Spring drills on Tuesday, April 1. Ranked 17th in the final Associated Press Poll, UC capped its first season under Kelly with a 31-21 win in the Papajohns.com Bowl to finish with a record of 10-3. The 10 wins were the most by a UC grid team since the 1951 season.
Over 2.6 million people, including 11,500 children have a form of arthritis in Ohio. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 67 million Americans or 25 percent of the adult population will have arthritis by the year 2030. More than 100 forms of arthritis and related conditions have been identified.
Locally, the Arthritis Foundation serves over 6,100 people in Life Improvement Series programs including exercise, aquatics and self-help classes. In addition, the Ohio River Valley Chapter coordinates over 1,100 arthritis advocates and maintains strong research partnerships with the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Since 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has funded more than $380 million in research grants.
The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world. For more information about the Commitment to a Cure event or the Arthritis Foundation, please call the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation at (513) 271-4545 or visit www.arthritis.org.
Cincinnati returns 16 starters and 44 letterwinners from a year ago, including All-Americans Kevin Huber, Mike Mickens, and Terrill Byrd. A variety of season ticket packages are available by contacting the UC Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-CATS-TIX, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Orders can also be placed by going online to www.CATSTIX.com.