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Help Abby raise money

For participating in 2026 Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon

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My Story…

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis when I was just 16 months old. My parents were lost, confused and stunned that their perfectly normal baby girl just received a diagnosis they thought only occurred in older people. My parents and I went to our first Cassie and Friends Family day in 2018, even tho I had my diagnosis for a long time, we had never heard of Cassie and friends. That family day changed how I saw my JIA, I wasn't alone. There were kids, my age, who knew how I felt, who knew what it was like to feel different, and kids who knew how much it hurt. I went to my first year of Arthritis Society Camp in 2019, where I met one of my closest friends, Lia. Lia and I want to join the 2026 Cassie and Friends walk, to show kids that they aren’t alone, and that someone who knows how it feels, is standing right by their side.

Description

I’m proud to be fundraising for Cassie + Friends, a Canadian charity dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families affected by juvenile arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases such as lupus, JDM, vasculitis, and autoinflammatory fever syndromes.

For these kids, living with juvenile arthritis affects far more than their joints. It can mean ongoing pain and fatigue, missed school and activities, frequent medical appointments and injections, and learning to navigate a complex healthcare system far too young. When diagnosis or care is delayed, the consequences can last for years. Families often begin this journey feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure where to turn.

Cassie + Friends helps change that — by connecting families early, providing trusted education and practical support, and investing in research that leads to better care and brighter futures.

By supporting this fundraiser, you’re helping ensure families receive the tools, confidence, and community they need — when it matters most.

Every donation, no matter the size, creates real impact for kids across Canada.


Together, we’re helping families in Vancouver and across British Columbia, including those from rural and remote communities, to navigate daily life with Juvenile Arthritis — while advancing the research and care that will bring us closer to better treatments, and ultimately, a cure. 


Thank you so much for standing with these incredible children and their families. It truly means the world.