#WhyIRun: Marley’s Story

Meet Marley: A Little Fighter Powering Big Change

Meet Marley, a brave three-year-old at the heart of Team Cassie + Friends’ Virtual Run crew, #MarleysJointForces. This June, her family and friends are lacing up to raise awareness and funds for kids like Marley living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

Inspired by her strength, they’re not just running — they’re building a movement. And you can be part of it, too. Whether you’re in Halifax, Vancouver, Toronto, or anywhere across Canada, you can join Team Cassie + Friends in person at one of our live race events, or virtually from your own community. Learn more and sign up at cassieandfriends.ca/run.

Marley’s Journey

Marley is three years old! She was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) weeks before her third birthday. We spent months worried and advocating for her that something was wrong. We were dismissed after bloodwork and an X-ray, as we were told it was growing pains. Something about this wasn’t sitting right with us. Marley didn’t move like other kids her age. She began getting worse and started waking up unable to walk and in constant pain. Seeing a three-year-old unable to walk or bend her knees was horrible as a parent, something we never imagined. I grew up with my best friend having JIA, so luckily, it was on my radar. After a few episodes in a row of her being unable to walk, we took her to the ER at the IWK in Halifax, and they referred us to the Rheumatology team. I could tell they did this as a precaution, but I’m thankful they did. Things started moving quickly after this. Our Rheumatologist was able to diagnose her within minutes of meeting her, and her treatment began that day.

Finding Strength and Community

We’ve had many highs and lows since her diagnosis, but we are so thankful for the Cassie + Friends community. It’s made us feel less alone. If you are reading this and feel you aren’t being heard by your care team, keep pushing. Trust your gut. A toddler shouldn’t be in pain and unable to kneel on the ground, climb stairs, or kick a ball!

Why We Run

Marley is early in her journey, but we have such an amazing support system to bolster her, and we hope she uses this disease to show the world how strong kids with JA can be!

That’s why we created #MarleysJointForces! We are passionate about raising awareness and ensuring there is adequate funding for research, so that’s why we’ve created Marley’s own team through Cassie + Friends’ Virtual Run platform.

Run With Us—Wherever You Are

Join us. Whether you’re near a Cassie + Friends race city or running from your own hometown, your steps can make a difference. Sign up today at cassieandfriends.ca/run. Or donate to a runner or team and help fuel the movement. Because #KidsCantWait.