***Please note there are 3 charities below - if you don't have a preference please choose the one with the least donations so that overall they will be evenly balanced***

I am fundraising and building awareness for 3 amazing charities that have been invaluable to us and countless other families. Please feel free to donate to any of the charities linked below, you do not need to do all three but if you don't have a preference perhaps choose the one with the least donations so that overall they will be evenly balanced.

Thank you in advance for reading our story, remembering that kids get arthritis too and for all of your support.

You can follow my daily updates, children's stories and be nosey about how well (or not!) I am managing both mentally and physically! on insta @gertie_jiajourney

Much love xxx

Gertie was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis (JIA) early in 2023 following months of pain that caused immobility in various joints and meant that at times she was unable to walk, dress or feed herself.

Cue various treatment methods, two weekly injections, innumerable appointments and a rollercoaster of emotions.

Gertie's condition is still not fully under control but much improved and we continue to work towards a day when she can be pain free. It's been a tough couple of years for the whole family, our lives have been changed yet Gertie has shown us what resilience really looks like.

We had never heard of JIA prior to her diagnosis and the treatment and unpredictability of the situation make it hard at times to understand. We have become increasingly live to accommodations that need to be made for a child with a physical disability and also to those occasions when the symptoms are less visible.

In order to raise awareness of JIA and its symptoms in April I am going to take on the challenge to run Manchester Marathon on 27th April and before that will do 10 miles every day. I will be sharing my story of potential fatigue, joint pain and the impact on work and social life, all of which are associated with arthritis.

If you would like to support me with this cause I would be very grateful, but my main intention is to spark a conversation about and increase awareness of JIA as well as generally just remind us all that we never know what is going on for people.

The charities I am supporting have all made a meaningful impact to our family and countless others. Please choose which charity you wish to donate to but I am hoping that the funds will be relatively evenly spread.

If you want to know more about Gertie's story or my challenge please follow @gertie_jiajourney

All of the charity websites have more information on JIA and there is more on their websites but a summary for each is below.

CCAA is a volunteer led charity run by people who have been affected by JIA and are passionate about supporting others. We have no statutory funding and have to fund raise every penny we spend. Donations help to fund all the projects and events we run across the country and of course all the family support services we operate too. Without donations we simply can't continue to support families that need our help.

https://www.ccaa.org.uk/

Juvenile Arthritis Research is a charity making a difference to the lives of those affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We are a parent-led charity with direct experience of JIA, and are run entirely by volunteers. JIA is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the joints causing inflammation, pain and reduced mobility.

Our vision is a world where no child has to suffer from arthritis. Our core aims include research to find a cure for JIA, raising awareness that children and young people get arthritis and providing support to children with JIA and their families. We rely entirely on fundraising and donations, with every penny raised going directly towards the work we do.

https://www.jarproject.org/home

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is here to support all those living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to allow them to live their lives to the full. Visit our website at www.nras.org.uk

NRAS is changing minds, services & changing lives for people with RA and JIA