Skip to main content

Help Lia raise money

For participating in 2026 Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon

Make a donation

Select a donation amount

My Story…

I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus when I was 12 years old. Up until 2018, I had had a pretty normal life. I always knew I had an overly active immune system, but my parents and I never would’ve imagined this. It all started in September of that year. I was hobbling through the school hallways every day thinking it was a soccer injury, and consistently wondering what was wrong. When I got diagnosed I was so scared because I didn’t think I would find anyone like me who would understand. In 2019, I met Abby at the Arthritis Society’s BC summer camp. I was able to see not only her, but other kids around me who understood what I was going through entirely. When I went to my very first Cassie and Friends event that year, to see all the lives they had touched, and the families they helped was inspirational. Abby and I want to take part in this event because we want to help this amazing organization reach more families and give kids someone to look to who understands them!

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.