Hi, my name is Savannah and I am a second-year university student studying kinesiology and living in Windsor, Ontario. I was diagnosed in grade school with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). A while ago, a member of my care team suggested I google Cassie + Friends to learn about the programs and resources offered for youth with JIA. Through the Virtual Youth Panel and various other webinars, I was able to find a place where everyone was just like me, and I wasn’t alone in the journey with JIA.

Last year, I started making resin hair clips and keychains and decided that I could sell the products with a vision of raising some money and awareness about rheumatic conditions. I wanted to make Cassie + Friends a recipient of 15% of each item sold.

A conversation starter hair clip soon became advocacy.

The idea of ‘Clips 4 a Cause’ started with a vision for a pretty hair clip to be a conversation starter as a way to share my experience living with JIA, creating awareness for the condition while raising some money for a non-profit I felt connected to. Through my fundraising initiative, I hope that this small contribution helps Cassie + Friends in the work they do, to help people feel empowered in their journey of living with rheumatic conditions.

Just this month, Savannah donated $385 to Cassie + Friends.

I am so grateful for the amazing support from my family and friends, and those in the community around this initiative, and truly feel blessed to be able to spread awareness while creating pretty hair clips and keychains for such an important cause.

Savannah is an active member of the Cassie + Friends youth community. This past June, she ran virtually in the Vancouver Half Marathon and 5K to fundraise and raise awareness of juvenile arthritis alongside her business. She is also a part of the leadership team as the Director of Education for the University of Alberta student group, Rheumours, which focuses on raising awareness of rheumatic diseases. Find Savannah on Instagram @Clips4aCause