March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month 25,000 Kids Are Counting on Us. Across Canada, thousands of children are living with serious rheumatic diseases — often grouped under the term juvenile arthritis (JA). These conditions are complex, frequently misunderstood, and when diagnosis is delayed, the consequences can last a lifetime. When kids are identified earlier, [...]
A Letter to the Scared Parent Editor’s Note Marissa is the Family Engagement Coordinator at Cassie + Friends Society and a parent to a child living with juvenile arthritis. This letter reflects her personal experience and the journey that led her to support other families navigating childhood-onset rheumatic disease. I love a good social [...]
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 [...]
Only 1 in 5 Canadians Know Kids Get Arthritis. Help Us Change That. Many people mistakenly believe arthritis only affects older adults but in reality, Juvenile Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic childhood disability in Canada, affecting over 25,000 children and youth. Low awareness and dangerous myths are putting kids at [...]
25,000 Kids Can't Wait. Watch this space for updates on how you can join our campaign to ensure that the 25,000 kids and families affected by JA and other rheumatic diseases have the support they need this #JIAAwarenessMonth #JIAAwarenessMonth Connection Event for Youth #JIAAwarenessMonth Connection Event [...]
Raising Awareness, Sharing Hope: One Family’s Journey with SJIA We’re so excited to introduce Tamara Schnarr, one of our new parent ambassadors for the Kitchener-Waterloo region! Tamara, a Realtor with a background in marketing, graphic design, and event management, is passionate about giving back to her [...]
Paige’s Journey with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis To have a chronic illness is to be fighting every day for the next. My name is Paige Simpson. I am 17 years old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, otherwise known as JIA. I have been treated for JIA for 15 years but have [...]
A Year of Advocacy and Impact: Our 2024 Highlights If it seems like we were everywhere this year - we were! We never turn down an opportunity to raise awareness about childhood rheumatic diseases or advocate for more resources for our community. That’s what makes Cassie + Friends the leading voice for [...]
Be a Champion this Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday is a day when people around the world come together to make a positive impact. This year, we need your help to bring awareness to a drastically under-represented and under-funded cause: Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and childhood rheumatic diseases. The truth is, most Canadians don’t [...]
At Cassie + Friends, we believe that every child and family should have access to timely and optimal rheumatic disease care. That’s why we launched the C+F Northern BC Project, to better understand the barriers to diagnosis, care, and patient support for families living in remote/rural communities and explore how we can work [...]
If you or a loved one is dealing with Juvenile Arthritis or any rheumatic disease, you're not alone. Sign up now for access to vital resources, news, and events. Join a supportive community that gets what you're facing. Together, we can make a difference in your Juvenile Arthritis journey.
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