Padel tennis for more than just fun
Padel tennis players 'padel-ed' for a good cause last Saturday, 4 May at the courts of Let's Play Padel on George Show Grounds. The day aimed to raise funds for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), also known as Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) - a rare spinal disease that can result in long-term joint and soft tissue damage if left unchecked.
The 4th of May, marked as World AS Day, coincides with the birthday of a Great Brak River resident, Maranda van Dam, who has been diagnosed with AS. Maranda suffered excruciating pain over many years of misdiagnoses before she finally gained access to the necessary medical interventions. "I have been through a lot and that is why I want to raise funds to help others who suspect they might have AS, to obtain a quicker diagnosis," she said.
Her initiative to hold a fundraiser for this cause was supported by Let's Play Padel in George, where Maranda spend a lot of her free time on the courts.
AS is a crippling form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the lower spine and sacroiliac joints in the pelvis, causing swelling, stiffness and debilitating pain. "It is not so easy to diagnose and that is why sufferers often have to go through many years of pain before receiving the correct help and medication," said Maranda.
Maranda's son, Jack, was diagnosed three years ago, when he was merely 15 years old. "It was much faster to diagnose Jack, because I already went through it," said Maranda. "The disease is hereditary and therefore it is important to monitor family members closely should one of the parents receive a positive diagnosis."
"If you are under the age of 45 and suffer from back pain for longer than three months that wakes you up at night, you better have it checked out," said Maranda. "Extra manifestations include eye infections, inflammation in your heals, pain in your buttocks which moves from one buttock to the other and a sore tummy."