My team
My Story…
Our family is participating again this Fall in the Toronto Waterfront marathon with Team Cassie + Friends.
Cassie + Friends is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and community to children and families affected by Juvenile Arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases.
Harley was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis in Dec 2022, when she was only 2 years old. Her body was so painful and inflamed. She had 34 joints affected by arthritis and her Rheumatology team confirmed that she was in A LOT of pain, all day, everyday. Every parent’s worst fear.
Thanks to life changing modern medicine, and a very thorough and supportive medical team, Harley now has a much better quality of life. She enjoys dancing, swimming, soccer and baseball. She’s a social butterfly and has done exceptionally well in her first year of school.
Finding and becoming involved with Cassie + Friends has been one of the best experiences and we can’t thank them enough for the work they do and fund in order to keep fighting for a cure for this horrible disease!
We believe a cure will be found!
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for your support! 💕
Description
Help kids and youth with Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and rheumatic diseases see that #HopeFlares when we unite for stronger families, resilient youth and a cure!
In Canada, 3 in 1,000 kids face JA and related conditions like SJIA/Stills, lupus, fever syndromes, JDM and autoinflammatory disorders. These diseases can lead to chronic pain, disability, vision loss, mental health struggles, and even life-threatening complications—yet they remain drastically underfunded and overlooked, with only 20% awareness nationwide.
Team Cassie + Friends is Canada’s only movement 100% dedicated to the JA community. What began with one dad running in 2007 has grown into 750+ runners and thousands of donors rallying together annually for a pain-free future for kids!
By supporting our run/walk, you’ll directly support:
Groundbreaking research into precision medicine, mental health, and a cure
Vital resources like free medical equipment, financial aid, and Comfort Kits
Mentorship for youth and caregivers
Education and connection events for families
Advocacy for earlier diagnosis and equitable care
Together, we can bring hope, support, and brighter futures for kids facing lifelong challenges.
Questions? Contact Marissa Sangers at marissa@cassieandfriends.ca
If registration cost is a barrier, ask about our Kids Run Free bursary program.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 07 | Ashton Scott | $54.63 |
| Aug 06 | Shannon Harvey | $27.80 |
| Jul 29 | Emily Farrell | $27.80 |
