Even though you may not have a condition, supporting those that do is imperative to help them through it.
SAN ANTONIO — Artwork is an expression of emotion and can bring attention to any issue the artist desires.
In this edition of Healthy SA, we introduce you to one woman who, with every stroke of her paintbrush, brings attention to a very common medical issue.
That condition is one that you may have, arthritis. It is considered the number one cause of disability in the U.S. affecting tens of millions of people. And just like any other chronic condition, those with arthritis need support, not just from those they know, but also people they don’t know.
Alannah Tiller, an artist and owner of A Lil Scribble told us, “I kind of just started there with prints and stickers and now I’ve done a bathing suit line, I’ve expanded into mural work, and I do a beer can design every year and things like that. My scribbles, they’re all about representing people and faces, different humans and connection.”
Tiller was recently contacted by The Arthritis Foundation to be a part of Green Heart Fridays, artwork created by local artists as part of a larger effort to raise awareness and show support for the millions living with arthritis.
“People need a voice for all sorts of things,” she said. “And the Arthritis Foundation, it’s a beautiful cause, and if I can offer any support to that, I’m happy to do it.”
About one in five people in the U.S. suffer from arthritis. More women have arthritis than men, with 21% reporting the condition, as opposed to men reporting 18%. Arthritis increases with increasing age, from just under 4% in adults ages 18–34 to 54% in those age 75 and older.
For Tiller, the partnership with the foundation was a perfect fit because she has many family members with the condition. She told us, “One is my dad, but also I found out I have several other family members who have it as well, so like my grandfather and a couple other extended family members.”
Tiller hopes this story lifts those with arthritis up, not just strangers, but her family too. She added, “Giving them more exposure to the foundation was really, really kind of a sweet, addition to this collaboration.”