Angela Durazo is an inspiring person who not only lives with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), she is a former triathlete, award-winning actress, and the first female to enter the Formula 4 US Race Championship. While RA may have interrupted her professional world in triathlons, it didn't stop her from translating her passion for sports into another "vehicle" .... car racing.
Like most patients, Angela "looks great" because
AiArthritis diseases are typically invisible, as they attack the body on a cellular level from the inside out. Eventually the inflammation caused enough destruction that she underwent multiple shoulder surgeries and knee surgery, followed by months of more rehabilitation. "When I left triathletes I went into severe depression. Doing them was a big part of my identity - my work, my friends, it was everything I had and who I was. When I lost that I didn't know what to do. Auto racing has given me a second chance to be an athlete."
At IFAA we call this 'finding your new normal', as these diseases affect our whole bodies, our whole lives, our jobs, our school, our relationships. And given onset is any age in children and 20-40 in adults, the physical limitations often are as important as the emotional and social implications. Ensuring our diseases and our associated challenges is understood by the public and our peers is vital to improving our quality of life.
Angela made history in 2018 as the first female to enter the F4 US Championships. Not only did Durazo compete in the 37-car field of the USF4 series, she forged her F4 talent with a 1st place win in the Formula IMR Challenge series.
She also secured two 2nd place podiums of the 6 race F4 Winter Championships series and she took home a notable 5th place in the Fp4 F4 West Coast Championships. Angela was coached by F1 Legend Tommy Bryne.
Angela will be attending the Launch Party "AUTO Ball" in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, May 2nd, so either see her in person or participate ONLINE as we stream parts of the event to social media. Host your own "Launch Party" right along with us!
Then continue the awareness ALL MONTH LONG, leading up to and during World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day,
May 20th!