Esmé has had juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) since the age of 3. For Esmé, that looks like weekly injections, tablets, managing joint pain and soreness and not always being able to join in with activities with other children her age. Despite that, she always has a determined look on her face and a 'can do' attitude, and when she is well really tries to take part in everything she can.

Walking for Esmé is often painful and sore. She has arthritis in her knees, ankles, wrists, elbow & jaw. Walking 100km will be a HUGE achievement for Esmé (especially given the English weather working against us!), and will take her some time to do. Not least because Esmé is only counting those kms earned on hikes, up and down hills and mountains. However, she wanted to do something truly worthwhile to have earned the money that people donate, inspire others, and also as a personal achievement for herself. Come rain, wind or sunshine, we will be out clocking up the kilometers to get to the 100km target! Since it'll take us a while to achieve this, any donation amount however small will soon add up, and help to keep Esmé motivated along the way!

The money raised will go 100% to Juvenile Arthritis Research (JAR) to help children like Esmé and their families.

Since diagnosis, we have been closely supported by JAR. Aside from JAR, there really isn't much support or awareness out there and it's a confusing, tricky thing to negotiate as a parent trying to understand all the various medications, treatments, disease pathways, prognosis etc. JAR is a very small charity ran entirely by parent volunteers doing amazing things and a real lifeline for families like us.

As an example, Esmé was recently hospitalised as a result of a sudden inability to stand or walk - one evening she was playing contact rugby, 2 days later she was in a lot of pain and unable to bear any weight through her legs. She spent a few days in hospital in a wheelchair trying to get to the bottom of what was wrong - which turned out to be her first serious arthritis flare, kicked off probably by her simply coming into contact with an ordinary childhood virus.

The support Esmé and I received from JAR was incredible - helping me understand what to do, where to go, what Esmé might need over the coming days, what questions to ask the doctors, and frankly also emotional support over a tricky few days/weeks. To top it off - they also sent Esmé some games, a book and kind words in a card to get her through the hospital stay. It's truly a charity that cares about each and every individual.

JAR doesn't receive any regular government funding, and 100% of the money fundraised is used to help families through diagnosis and beyond and to seek to find a cure for JIA. Esmé lives in hope that one day there will be a cure, and in the meantime, JAR is helping to make our journey with JIA that bit more bearable.

Please help us to raise money for JAR to continue to help families like us.