My team
My Story…
Meet Frankie 
Our sweet, brave little boy Frankie is only 3 years old, but he has already faced more than most children ever should. Frankie lives with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), an autoimmune disease that causes painful joint inflammation, frequent medical appointments, medications, injections, and daily challenges that no child should have to endure.
Despite everything, Frankie continues to smile, laugh, and inspire us with his incredible strength and resilience. We are participating in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in support of Cassie + Friends to help fund critical research, advocacy, and support programs for children living with childhood arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
Every donation, big or small, helps bring us closer to better treatments and, one day, a cure. Thank you for supporting Frankie and all the amazing kids fighting this disease every day. 
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 Toronto and across Ontario, 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.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 29 | Susan DeSousa | Undisclosed amount |
| Jul 21 | Frank and Cathy Provenzano | CA$108.31 |
| Jul 21 | Giulio & Josie Rauti | CA$108.31 |
| Jul 21 | Cammie Jardine | CA$108.31 |
| Jul 21 | Alexandra | CA$50.00 |
| Jul 21 | Anonymous | CA$54.63 |
