Our story…
We are the University of Toronto Rheumatic Disease Club!
We were founded in 2022 by a U of T student with Juvenile Arthritis through the Cassie + Friends Youth Ambassador Program.
The University of Toronto Rheumatic Disease Club's mission is to increase understanding for and within the rheumatic disease community at U of T. This will lead to our vision of a supportive and inclusive campus for U of T students with a rheumatic disease. There are three main ways we live our mission and work towards our vision:
1. We provide care packages to U of T students with rheumatic disease. These care packages both provide essential items for students with rheumatic diseases (ex: cold packs, KT tape, easy grip pens) and show these students that the U of T community cares about them. Students with rheumatic diseases can often be misunderstood. These care packages demonstrate understanding.
2. Connection events for students with rheumatic diseases. These are fun, low-stakes events that connect U of T students who have rheumatic diseases. It's hard to fully understand a situation unless you are living it. Connecting with others who also live life at U of T with a rheumatic disease helps to make students feel understood.
3. Education on rheumatic diseases in the U of T community. Creating a more understanding community requires that the community understand the situation at hand. The goal of the education is to provide a wider base level of knowledge about rheumatic diseases so the next time their classmate says they "have Juvenile/Rheumatoid/etc Arthritis," their peer understands a little bit of what they might be going through. When they understand their peer's rheumatic disease, they can more effectively help and support them.
Understanding breeds support and inclusion.
This club and, subsequently, the support we provide is a product of the amazing work Cassie + Friends does in it's youth leadership programs!
To learn more about our club, please visit @uoftrheumaticdisease on Instagram.
Description
This year, our team will be running in support of kids and families affected by juvenile arthritis (JA) and other rheumatic diseases with Cassie + Friends Society. Cassie + Friends is a national charity focused 100% on kids and families impacted by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Cassie + Friends provides much needed education, awareness, support programs, advocacy and research to families across Canada.
What is JA?
JA is an incurable autoimmune disease in kids that attacks healthy joints and steals childhoods. It’s just as common as Juvenile Diabetes (every 3 in 1000 kids) and yet receives a fraction of the research, awareness and support. Kids with JA live with pain, fatigue and fevers, and many require aggressive medications like chemotherapy.
In 2022, Cassie + Friends is raising money for:
- Providing parents with access to a private Online Support Network
- Supporting families with emergency funds and medical equipment
- Helping fund Monthly Expert-Led educational webinars
- Connecting youth with trained peer mentors
- Fueling critical Advocacy + research into safer Treatments and a cure.
Thank you for your support towards a pain-free future for kids and families affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases!
#TeamCassieAndFriends #JAWontStopMe
Team members
Click on one of our team members below to make a donation.
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sahara i. mehdi
Raised: $1,640.91
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Ciara Mahaffy
Raised: $923.56
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Ian Gillis
Raised: $859.19
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Sajida Mehdi
Raised: $133.31
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Siraj Mehdi
Raised: $100.00
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Summer Mehdi
Raised: $100.00
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(Wen) Wenxiang Zhuang
Raised: $50.23
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Matthew Pastushak
Raised: $45.94
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Violet Derbyshire
Raised: $10.00
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Eliza McCann
Raised: $6.33
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Hưng Võ
Raised: $0.00
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Sydney Middleton
Raised: $0.00
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Taha Aboshanab
Raised: $0.00
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Ufuoma Akalusi
Raised: $0.00
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Recent donors
Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
---|---|---|
Nov 07 | Sheena Fennell | $22.43 |
Oct 22 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
Oct 22 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
Oct 20 | King Lear Concession Stand Matinee, day 3 | $25.00 |
Oct 19 | King Lear Concession Stand Night 2 | $39.00 |
Oct 18 | King Lear Concession Stand Night 1 | $82.50 |
Oct 12 | Pam and Don | $100.00 |
Oct 10 | Anonymous | $50.00 |
Oct 10 | Neil Seeman | $54.63 |
Oct 09 | Mary McCallum | Undisclosed amount |