In early 2022 we launched the Team Cassie + Friends Youth Ambassador program to support youth in raising awareness of JA and other rheumatic diseases within their school community. Soleil is one of our first Team C+F Youth Ambassadors! This month she will give a presentation to her entire school on Juvenile Arthritis and [...]
Meet Carrie Ritchie! Carrie is a member of the Cassie + Friends National Board of Directors and a parent of a child with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. We caught up with Carrie to learn about her family's journey with juvenile arthritis over the last 2 years. As a board member, Carrie looks forward to helping [...]
It's #JuvenileArthritisAwarenessMonth, what can I do to help? To make it easy for you to get involved, we've put together 5 Simple Ways to Recognize Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. From educating classmates to participating in fundraising events (such as our Cassie + Friends Run/Walk for Juvenile Arthritis- check out #1), we have the opportunity [...]
A message from our Board Chair, David Porte. Dear Cassie + Friends Community, Today is the start of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month and I am writing to invite you to get behind our mission by becoming a monthly donor to Cassie + Friends. Even just $10, $20 or $50 dollars per month can make a big [...]
***MEDICAL ADVISORY UPDATE: COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE + SAFETY DATA*** It has been a while since we have provided a COVID update, and we know a lot has been happening for children and youth with arthritis and rheumatic diseases, and their families. It has been a challenging time for so many, and difficult to keep up [...]
Hello, my name is Grace Parker Palidwor. I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis when I was 18 months old. In the first few years of my diagnosis, I don’t remember much except that I believed that every child was exactly like me. I believed that all my friends woke up with stiff joints [...]
teens + young adults At Cassie + Friends, we are here to support you as a young adult living with rheumatic disease! Whether you are transitioning from pediatric to adult care, attending post-secondary education and/or in the workplace, we've gather extensive resources and information to manage help you manage your arthritis and [...]
I am the proud mother to a vibrant 3.5-year-old, Émilie, who was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) shortly before her second birthday. We were fortunate as a family to receive a diagnosis in a relatively rapid timeframe thanks to knowledge about navigating the health care system (I work as a nurse) and a [...]
Parenting is joyful, frustrating, rewarding and exhausting. Parenting a child with a chronic disease gives you a double dose of it all; you face challenges most parents never dream of. You juggle doctors, therapists, hospitals, insurance companies, pharmacies and the list goes on. Then there are the emotional and behavioural issues you deal with. [...]
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.
Join us in creating a pain-free future for kids by becoming a monthly donor! Your support will give kids and families across Canada the care, education and resources they deserve. Click here to learn more!
