855.825.9255
Who Moves You: Your Stories
A princess's journey to fight arthritis
Typically, arthritis is often thought of as a disease associated with aging, but did you know that children get arthritis too? The Arthritis Society estimates that as many as 24,000 Canadian children aged 18 and under live with a form of arthritis – that’s more than 3 out of every 1,000 kids.
Nik only knows life with arthritis
Nik only knows life with arthritis. Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at just 22 months, the 22-year-old Halifax resident grew up with the disease, missing school time for doctor’s appointments, managing his fatigue levels and dealing with medications much younger than most should.
Emma's journey to find a cure
On January 26, 2009 – my daughter Emma, a happy and healthy little redheaded girl arrived. She grew normally and hit all her milestones on time. She was walking by 11 months and smiled all of the time.
The challenge, above all
An accomplished athlete, seasoned kinesiologist and true entrepreneur, Naomi Ban is a positive person who shows great character when faced with adversity.
Jack's inspirational journey with arthritis
In November 2013, after months of illness and too many frightening trips to emergency, 13-year-old Jack Hornecker was admitted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Jack was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, as well as macrophage activation syndrome. This is a rare and very serious complication that meant Jack’s liver and spleen were severely inflamed.
Why she walks for arthritis
Overwhelmed with ankylosing spondylitis at age 22, Christy Dunn slowly took control of her life. Still, scooping her infant from the crib can be a monumental effort.
A life-defining diagnosis
Heather Starmans, a 33-year-old in Whitby, Ontario, turned a life-changing diagnosis into a life-defining opportunity.
Wise beyond her six years
Six-year-old Taiyah Reinhart enjoys activities that are typical of a child her age: rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, crafts, painting and colouring. However, there are times when these activities can be a bit of a challenge.
'I think of people who have it worse than I do'
One of Duncan Bull's earliest memories is being unable to sit down and cross his legs like other preschoolers. "You don't quite realize at the time how different you are," he says now. "But every so often there would be something."
Jenna Small and her Community in Motion
Being a three-year-old flower girl at her uncle's wedding with knees so swollen she required help down the aisle. Playing tag at recess and, not able to move well enough, always being "it."
Rock star fundraiser
Three mornings a week, 12-year-old Sebastian Sundquist wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to work out with his father in Prince George, B.C. He wakes up stiff and sore, but his juvenile idiopathic arthritis is only a minor obstacle in his way. This September he plans to join his dad in a 5-kilometre run, half of which is uphill.
Not alone
Few Canadians participate in more arthritis-related events than 9-year-old Sophie Watt and her mother Melanie from Fredericton. They do so to connect with others and seek relief from challenges imposed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
CJ's extraordinary life with arthritis
On his way to the 2011 Walk to Fight Arthritis in Ottawa, having raised $1,800 in just nine days, 9-year-old CJ Bucholtz was suffering. The bullying at school had only worsened after his diagnosis with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. His medication was making him constantly nauseous. He asked his mother if he was "ordinary."
