Betty Rodrigues OBE of Horsham, West Sussex, dedicated over 40 years of her life to raising funds for the Arthritis Research Council (ARC), a predecessor to Versus Arthritis.

Betty became a member of the Horsham Branch of ARC in 1968 after Jonathan, the middle child of her three children, was seriously ill with rheumatoid arthritis. Betty took over as chair in 1970 and ran the branch until 2009 when she finally retired aged 80. Together with her friends Heather Hewitt, who served as treasurer, Pat Hance and Doreen Wagstaff, Betty organised over 100 coffee mornings, ploughman's lunches and musical evenings in aid of ARC. She and her friends were also stalwarts every year of the ever-popular Horsham charity Christmas card shop, raising money for local charities as well as national ones like ARC. The thousands of pounds they raised over the years for ARC helped to fund vital research which has changed the way arthritis is understood and treated. 

But the challenge remains.

Betty died peacefully aged 91 on 8th November 2020 surrounded by her family. Because of Covid 19 restrictions, the funeral is family only. There will be a thanksgiving service next year. Details will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Please help us to honour Betty's memory by making a donation in her name. The money raised will help with the continued fight against arthritis, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and for which there are treatments but, as yet, no cure.

Thank you.

Lisa, Jonathan and Alexander Rodrigues