Growing up with JDM - Layla’s experience My experience with the healthcare system started earlier than most. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), a rare autoimmune disease that affects the muscles and skin, and since then, the Montreal Children’s Hospital has been a constant part of my life, [...]
Still Shining: Ava’s Journey with Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis May is Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Awareness Month. Many people think of AS as a condition that affects adults, but it can begin in childhood, too. Ava’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of kids living with Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis and the importance of [...]
#WhyIRun: Stephanie + Tommy's Story Meet Stephanie, who is running with Team Cassie + Friends to raise awareness for Juvenile Arthritis for her son, Tommy! Diagnosed with oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) just after his second birthday, Tommy’s journey has been full of ups and downs. Read more about their story below, and [...]
World Lupus Day: Hunter’s Journey from Diagnosis to Mentorship and Research This World Lupus Day, we’re honoured to share a guest blog from one of our incredible youth mentors, Hunter. Diagnosed with lupus at just nine years old, Hunter faced more than most kids his age. Now at 24, Hunter works as [...]
#WhyIRun: Meet Team Cassie + Friends Montréal! La version française suit la version anglaise. We’re so excited that on May 25, 2025, Montréal will host its FIRST EVER Team Cassie + Friends walk/run! Read more about the amazing families that will be joining us below—and then join kids like Valerina, Beatrice, and Brooklyn [...]
#WhyIRun: Marley's Story Meet Marley: A Little Fighter Powering Big Change Meet Marley, a brave three-year-old at the heart of Team Cassie + Friends’ Virtual Run crew, #MarleysJointForces. This June, her family and friends are lacing up to raise awareness and funds for kids like Marley living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Inspired [...]
#WhyIRun: Blake's Story Meet Blake: One of Our Youngest Runners and a Big Reason We Run! Meet Blake, a resilient little one and one of our youngest runners on Team Cassie + Friends Halifax! Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at just 16 months old, Blake’s journey has been filled with challenges, strength, [...]
Measles, April 2025 Update: What Families in Our Community Need to Know We know that many families in our community are feeling concerned about the recent measles outbreaks in parts of Canada. We’re hearing questions, especially from parents of children who are on medications that may affect their immune systems and/or have caused [...]
The Federal Election is on April 28th. Make Your Voice Heard for Kids. Cassie + Friends is proud to be participating in the election advocacy campaign being led by Arthritis Society Canada along with other leading arthritis organizations. Together, we’re calling on all parties and candidates to take bold action on arthritis [...]
#KidsCantWait: Emily's Journey Emily was just 16 months old when she started showing symptoms. The first sign we noticed was her discomfort while getting dressed in the morning—she seemed to be in pain. Her amazing daycare workers also noticed changes, mentioning that she was less active than before. She [...]
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