My team
My Story…
Once again, my daughter Emily and I are lacing up our running shoes to take on the 5km Toronto Waterfront Race. But for us, this race isn’t just about the run, it’s about giving hope and support to children and families living with paediatric rheumatic diseases through Cassie & Friends, the only Canadian charity dedicated to this cause.
In March 2019, when Emily was just a little girl, what we first thought were normal childhood bumps and aches turned out to be something far more serious, Oligo-articular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Instead of running freely with her friends, her own immune system was attacking her joints. Yes, kids can get arthritis too!
JIA affects 3 in every 1,000 Canadian children. And it doesn’t stop at the joints—since 2021, Emily’s arthritis has advanced to her eyes, leaving her at risk of permanent vision loss. Roughly 3,000 kids across Canada already face this same complication, called non-infectious uveitis.
To protect her mobility and sight, Emily now relies on weekly injections of systemic therapy. While there is still no cure, these treatments give her the chance to dream, to play, and to just be a kid. By supporting Cassie & Friends, you are not only funding life-changing research but also providing families like ours with critical resources, community, and hope.
Every donation helps kids with JIA move forward with less pain, more strength, and brighter possibilities.Please consider donating and helping us run this race not just for Emily, but for every child living with arthritis. Together, we can turn resilience into progress.
www.cassieandfriends.ca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 29 | Ruby & Jason Andreou | $108.31 |
| Sep 23 | chris partridge | $269.32 |
| Sep 22 | Delon | $350.00 |
| Sep 22 | Kevin T | $269.32 |
| Sep 21 | Mike | $108.31 |
| Sep 20 | Anonymous | $250.00 |
| Sep 20 | Nick Abe | $54.63 |
