Each year students at St. Pius X (SPX) Elementary School in North Vancouver put their talents on display at their annual variety show to raise funds for a local charity.

This year, thanks to SPX alum and C+F volunteer Alison Legge, those funds will go to help kids and families affected by Juvenile Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases through Cassie and Friends – a cause and community close to her heart.

Alison was first diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at the age of 3. Of her early years with JIA, Alison writes: “I would say despite my JIA, my childhood was pretty normal; I played hockey, softball, and skied, and attended a regular school. Occasionally I would miss a class or a game…but there was nothing too out of the ordinary.” Unfortunately, Alison also remembers when things got tough: “When I was eight, I lost the ability to open my mouth and chew. Unfortunately, by the time we realized it was arthritis the damage had been done.”

Now, nearly 15 years later, Alison is remembered by her former educators at SPX as determined, brave and compassionate – and is helping to spread JIA awareness to a whole new generation of students. As part of Cassie and Friends’ 2016 Family Day conference, Alison gave a powerful speech about navigating mental health while living with JIA, and at the last Family Day she spoke as part of the Teen Youth Panel. Most recently, Alison has taken on the role of spearheading Cassie and Friends’ newly formed Youth Leader Network – a group of young adults age 16 to 26 whose mission is to provide a platform for youth living with rheumatic diseases to connect and be empowered.

We at Cassie and Friends are so grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of Alison and SPX. It is thanks to our dedicated friends like them that we are able to provide unprecedented care to children and families affected by rheumatic diseases. We are so excited to bring this donation back to the community in the form of life changing support, equipment, programs and events for kids living with rheumatic diseases.

Thank you Alison and St. Pius X Elementary School!