Cindy Nelson suffers from osteoarthritis in her hips, and notes that “it’s very important to keep things moving, and one of the best exercises for arthritis is walking.”

On March 19, the Kenmore resident is hoping to get loads of people walking, as well, with her Shamrock Walk for Arthritis. The event will take place at 10 a.m. rain or shine starting from Log Boom Park in Kenmore (61st Avenue Northeast and Northeast 175th Street), and participants can walk either one mile or 3.1 miles (5K). Registration starts at 9 a.m., speakers are set for 9:30 a.m. and a prize for wackiest green attire will be handed out at 9:45 a.m.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Northwest Chapter, and $15 is the recommended entry fee.

Nelson, a managing broker for Champion Real Estate Services in Lynnwood, said that arthritis runs in her family and she’s hoping to educate people about the disease at the event. The eight-year Kenmore resident is working with the Arthritis Foundation, which will have members sharing information at the registration table.

While the foundation usually hits the bigger cities like Seattle with the Jingle Bell Run and other events, Nelson said, “I thought, well, ‘Hey, Kenmore — they can do their thing.”

Nelson’s Shamrock Walk idea took shape when an instructor in her Landmark Education Center “Self Expression and Leadership Program” class in Fremont asked students to hold a community event. Nelson noted that she has arthritis and she loves to walk, so the event was a go.

First step: “They encouraged you to build a team,” said Nelson, who got a group of friends on board to help her plan the event, get sponsors like Super Supplements in the mix and spread the word.

Next step: a whole lot of walking on March 19.