Did you know that March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada?

Here at Cassie + Friends, we have been raising awareness and providing support to the JA community since 2007! We are the only charity in Canada exclusively dedicated to the pediatric rheumatic disease community and our dedication shows!

From our Team Cassie + Friends Run/Walks to our life-changing Family Day events, our Injection Support program and our online JA Canada Parent/Caregiver Group, we aim to support, educate, connect and empower families as we work together to advance much-needed research and advocacy to give kids the pain-free futures they deserve.

This Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, you can help us spread the word about JA and all childhood rheumatic diseases by sharing our awareness graphics (below) on your social media using #ConnectingJA, participating in our events, or making a gift in support of our mission today!

A Message from Cassie + Friends Board Chair marking Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month:

Dear Friends,

When my daughter Cassie was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at just 20 months old, it plunged our family into a world of uncertainty, isolation, and heartbreak. We faced a lack of resources and felt powerless watching Cassie suffer. Those early days were overwhelming, to say the least.

This March, as we observe Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, I’m reminded of those days and why we started Cassie + Friends. Our mission has always been clear: to find a cure for Juvenile Arthritis. But until that day comes, we are dedicated to ensuring that no child or family faces this disease alone and in fear.

One crucial way we support families is through our Family Day conferences. These events offer invaluable connections, resources, and hope to those affected by childhood rheumatic diseases. Family Day will return this May in Toronto, in partnership with the UCAN International Scientific Conference. And beyond that, we’re committed to expanding Family Day to cities across Canada.

However, we need your help to make this vision a reality. We’ve launched an urgent campaign this March, asking for your support in becoming a monthly donor to our Helping Hands Family Day Travel Bursary Fund. Your monthly contributions will enable families to attend these life-changing events, fostering connections and providing much-needed support.

I’ve personally witnessed the transformative power of #ConnectingJA. It’s through these connections that families find strength, purpose, and most importantly, hope.

If you believe, as I do, in the importance of supporting families facing Juvenile Arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases, I invite you to join us as a monthly donor today or to make a one-time gift. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and families across Canada.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to lend a Helping Hand.

Warm regards,

David Porte
Founder and Board Chair, Cassie + Friends