We have been asking youth with rheumatic disease to share their story! Sharing stories helps build community and connections. We hope that Jenna’s amazing story inspires you to share your own story. My name is Jenna Kedy. I am 18 years old and live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a child, I was often [...]
My name is Matthew Sholdice. I am 19 years old, and I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 3 years old. I’ll start with a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in London, Ontario. I enjoy reading, working out, and watching TV and anime. Stranger Things season 4 was [...]
Hi Everyone! My name is Ciara, and I am working as an Administrative Assistant at Cassie + Friends this summer I am 19 years old and have just finished my first year at the University of Toronto studying English Literature. One of my favourite forms of Literature is Epic poetry (ex: The Odyssey). I am [...]
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 [...]
Addie, Prince George, BC 14 years old, Psoriatic JIA I used to hike and play school sports like basketball and volleyball. Now, I’m not able to because my arthritis hurts too much in my elbow, ankles and knees. This last year I started on the volleyball team, but had to stop playing because of [...]
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 [...]
Scarlett’s journey started at about 16 months old. We noticed that in the mornings, she would just sit for up to two hours. Did not want to stand or walk - she almost seemed like she had to ‘warm up’ first. After about a week of no improvement, I took her to the doctor [...]
A year and a half ago our daughter was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Her pain and psoriasis started about a year before that but between misdiagnosis and chalking things up to growing pains, we had no idea JIA was even a thing. It all came to a head after a hike when her knee [...]
I was diagnosed with JIA 25 years ago. Twenty-five years ago I was 13 years old and newly diagnosed with JIA or as it was known in my day, JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). When I was a teen I found a lot of peer support through a Juvenile Arthritis Physiotherapy program, which is why [...]
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 [...]
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!
