youth leader network
At Cassie + Friends, you’ll find a strong, connected community of youth affected by JA and other rheumatic diseases from right across the country. We support our youth by connecting them with others, forming a strong Youth Leader Network (YLN), helping them to gain skills for navigating chronic illness and providing them with opportunities to create meaningful and transformative change towards our vision of a pain-free future for kids.
There are many ways to access support or make a difference, how would you like to get involved?
C+F Youth Mentorship Program
The C+F Youth Mentorship Program provides a safe and secure space where trained mentors can share their lived experiences, tips and advice in navigating growing up with JA or another rheumatic disease and where mentees can ask questions in a judgement-free setting with a peer that ‘just gets it’.
C+F Future Leader Program
What is the Future Leaders Program?
In 2022, we launched an exciting youth initiative aimed at cultivating future leaders known as the Youth Ambassadors Program! We’re excited to launch the second year of the program under its new name, the C+F Future Leaders Program.
Research tells us that “if you experience some kind of unfortunate event in childhood, it is going to influence you in later life. But the good note is: If you also manage to cultivate and maintain good, supportive and strong social relationships, that can help you reduce the relationship of negative experiences and potential higher likelihood of frailty.” (Monica M. Williams-Farrelly, PhD, Regenstrief Research Scientist).
Over the course of a one-year commitment, C+F Future Leaders receive support to plan and launch their own special project as well as training to give back as an official Cassie + Friends Youth Mentor. The year culminates with our Future Leaders Showcase where participants present their refined project plans!
This program provides a platform for relationship building and empowerment. Through personal and professional development workshops, advocacy and awareness campaigns, participation in current research studies, and more, C+F Future Leaders will become well-positioned to make a lasting impact in the childhood rheumatic disease community and beyond!
Participants must be youth/young adults aged 17+ living with a childhood rheumatic disease.
Stay tuned for more information about the next FLP cohort which will be open for application in 2025 by signing up for our newsletter and following us on social media!
Team C+F Run Ambassador Program
Want to help raise funds and awareness for juvenile arthritis at your school or amongst your sports team? Learn more about hosting a kids’ fun run at your school and earn free kids’ registration with our Youth Run Ambassador Program
Why should you become a Team C+F Ambassador?
- Educate your school and/or sports team about juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases
- Receive a Team C+F School Awareness and Fun Run Package including educational materials for your classroom/sports team, sidewalk chalk, ribbons to host your at-school fun run event, and more!
- Fun prizes when you reach fundraising milestones:
> Raise $150, receive a Team C+F swag prize
> Raise $500, a cupcake party for your class or sports team - The opportunity to apply for the 2023 Youth Leader Award (see below!) and your chance at a $500 prize.
Youth Leader Awards
The idea for a Youth Leader Network (YLN) began in 2017 when a young girl named Jaylene Prime raised an astounding $5000 in bottle returns from friends, family, and neighbours to donate to Cassie + Friends. Her impact quickly grew as she inspired other children to get involved and think up their own ways to raise awareness and funds for kids and families living with Juvenile Arthritis. In 2020, Jaylene and her family raised over $20,000 for Team C+F. Since then, youth have raised more than $40,000 to support affected kids and families by helping fund programs such as School Puppet Show, annual Family Days and research.
As a part of our Youth Leader Network (YLN) and in recognition of the amazing youth leaders in our community, like Jaylene, Cassie + Friends has launched a new Youth Recognition Program for youth age 5- 25 that will run all year long!
Do you have an idea of how you’d like to make a positive impact on kids and families affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases?
Youth who show initiative in the following categories of research, education, connection or support will be recognized for their efforts, be eligible for exciting prizes and have an opportunity to claim one of two Top Youth Leader Grand Prizes of $500! The Cassie + Friends Youth Leader Award aims to encourage all youth affected by rheumatic disease to make a positive impact towards our mission of transforming kids’ lives while developing useful skills, like event planning and leadership, that will help them excel in school, work and life. For details on how youth are getting involved, see below!
Initiatives related to research, awareness, connection and support will be eligible for recognition. Ideas are not limited to:
- Participating in a research study
- Fundraisers such as Team Cassie + Friends run/walk, bake/craft sales, Facebook Fundraisers, Birthday fundraisers, bottle drives, etc.
- Organizing awareness events such as showing the Cassie + Friends at School video in your classroom, sharing your story on our blog, creating school groups, or participating in Awareness Days such as WORD Day or Rare Disease Day.
- Providing connection to someone in need such as mentorship or hosting a teen arthritis event.
- Click here for a list of all previous applicant initiatives to get you thinking!
We hope you’ll get creative! Have an idea you’d like to run by us? Email info@cassieandfriends.ca
At the end of each year, awards will be given to two individuals (one from each age category: 12 & under, 13-25) selected by a committee.
The Youth recognition program was created for all youth age 5-25 who are looking to make a positive impact on kids and families affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
- Youth living with rheumatic disease, as well as siblings, friends or others looking specifically to support other youth affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are eligible for the program
- Individuals and/or groups can get involved
- Recognition awards will be divided into two age groups: Under 12, and 12-25.
Not inside the specified age category? Send us an email and let’s chat!
Is your child inspired to help others affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases? By becoming a Junior Leader, youth age 5-12 who lead an initiative, project or activity that positively impacts the lives of others living with rheumatic disease, will be eligible for a chance to win a $500 Youth Leader Award! Use your creativity guided by one of Cassie + Friends core pillars, research, information, connection and/or support, to launch your idea into action.
Become a Youth in Action with Cassie + Friends! We’ll recognize the work your doing on our social media platforms and provide you with the tools you’ll need to succeed along the way. Sharing your story, launching a fundraiser or running with us on Team Cassie + Friends are just a few examples of how to get involved! As long as your initiative fits into one of the following categories, research, education, connection or support, you can apply to win the National Youth Leader award and a $500 prize!
View the Application for Youth Leader Award 2023 and fill out the 2024 Application to let us know more about your positive impact on the Canadian juvenile arthritis community and apply for the Youth Leader Award. Applications for the 2023 Youth Leader Award are now open until December 13th, 2024.
Questions? Email info@cassieandfriends.ca
Check Out our Past Award Recipients
Jake Shiell – 2022 Youth Leader Award (12 & under)
Jake was recognized as the National Youth Leader for his multiple lemonade stand fundraiser. Jake was even recognized on the news, on the radio, and is often invited to host a stand when the local hockey team has games!
As of February 2023, Jake has hosted nine lemonade and cookie stands and raised over $4,000. He truly embraces the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
Click here to watch a short Thank You video from Jake
Emma Linsley – 2022 Youth Leader Award (age 13-25)
Emma Linsley received the 2022 Youth Leader Award for her patient advocacy and research work. Emma is a patient advocate and served as a patient representative on a Saskatchewan committee promoting health science research. Her current focus is on the unmet needs in adolescent and young adult care. As such, she has performed lectures for the University of Saskatchewan Faculty of Nursing on treating young people with chronic illnesses and the importance of patient centered care. Recently, she has been involved with the Canadian Rheumatology Association as both a core member and a lead writer researching the development of Transition Care Guidelines for rheumatology treatment across Canada. She is also working on developing a comprehensive web page of the current and projected Transition Care Resources available in Canada.
2023 C+F Youth Leader Award Recipients
Join us in congratulating Caden Castonguay, the recipient of 2023 Youth Leader Award for the 13+ age group!
Caden embodies dedication and passion in her advocacy efforts. Her remarkable journey of advocacy and awareness reached new heights when she shared her inspiring story on Global News, shedding light on Juvenile Arthritis and the supports that C+F is working towards helping youth + families in Canada. Her impactful contributions extended further as she took the stage as a speaker for our Injection Support webinar, offering invaluable insights and support to fellow youth.
Caden’s commitment didn’t stop there; she tirelessly wrote letters of support, amplifying the voices of youth across Canada and advocating for change. Additionally, her role as a Youth Mentor has left a profound impact, guiding and empowering others to become advocates in their own right. Caden’s unwavering dedication is something we are so proud of! Congratulations Caden!
Join us in congratulating Elena Friess, the recipient of 2023 Youth Leader Award for the 12 and Under age group!
Elena’s commitment to advocacy and awareness for Juvenile Arthritis is amazing. She is such an impactful young girl who help a presentation to her local rotary club in West Kelowna, BC on the impacts of Arthritis.
She is committed to helping host a wonderful event fundraising for the Penticton Arthritis Centre for the Team Cassie + Friends Okanagan run and last year was one of the top fundraisers with her team Elena’s Ohana!
All of this hard work and dedication is something that we are so proud of Elena for. Congratulations Elena!
