The Arthritis Foundation

My personal story with arthritis

I was diagnosed with arthritis at 3 years old and have always felt alone in my experiences. The arthritis foundation has allowed me to connect with others like me and share my stories along with hearing others. Because of them, I have found a group of people I can call my family. This fundraiser is to raise money for the arthritis foundation in order for me to gain volunteer hours and raise money for me to be a CIT at their camp this summer. Please sign up, share, donate, and/or participate in any way you can. Any and every participating is greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone! This is our story.

A Joint Effort for JRA is a campaign created by Kaylee O'Brien and Ipek Aydin to raise awareness and funds for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). Our mission is to support research efforts and ultimately find a cure for JRA, which currently affects approximately 50,000 children in the United States.

In August of 2023, after several doctor appointments and physical therapy sessions, Kaylee was diagnosed with JRA. This diagnosis has significantly impacted her life in numerous ways. As Kaylee's best friend, classmate, and teammate, Ipek witnessed firsthand how the condition affected her ability to participate in everyday activities, including tasks as simple as driving and engaging in sports. Observing Kaylee's struggles motivated Ipek to get involved and make a meaningful impact in the JRA community.

Currently, there is no known cure for JRA, and the road to better treatments remains long and uncertain. We believe that increased funding for research is crucial to advancing our understanding of this condition and finding a cure.

Through A Joint Effort for JRA, we aim to raise the funds necessary to support these research initiatives. We are determined to contribute to the efforts to combat this debilitating condition and improve the lives of those affected.

In honor of Movember - a month in which many grow mustaches to bring awareness to challenges in men’s health - I am raising money (and growing a stache!) to support a cause that impacts a very special man in my life. When he was very young, my husband, Dakota, was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that targets soft tissues throughout the body. To date, there is no cure for the condition, only medications to manage symptoms and flare-ups. I am thus dedicating my efforts this Movember to support the work and research of the Arthritis Foundation in the hopes that one day, a cure might be found. Please join me in fighting for Dakota and all of those who battle bravely each day with RA!

About Rheumatoid Arthritis:

https://www.arthritis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-patient-education

Hello! My name is Gaby McMillan, and I am honored to represent Alpha Omicron Pi in Sigma Phi Epsilon's Queen of Hearts competition. This event is about much more than a title; it’s an opportunity to make a real difference. I am raising funds to support the Arthritis Foundation, a cause close to the heart of our organization and many individuals who face the daily challenges of arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of over 54 million people who are impacted by arthritis, offering support, resources, and hope. Every donation, big or small, will help provide valuable research, advocacy, and support programs to those who need it most.

Your support will not only help me in the Queen of Hearts competition but, more importantly, will impact countless lives affected by arthritis. Thank you for joining me in this mission to make a meaningful difference! Together, we can stand up to arthritis and bring hope and relief to those who need it.

Did you know that kids get arthritis? If not, you are certainly not alone! Cowan, my 15 year old son, has always loved playing sports, including playing two years on a PGA Junior League team and will be playing on his High School Golf Team. A few months before he turned nine, while playing football, he began to have difficulty running. Soon after he was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Arthritis, meaning he had swelling in five or more joints.

The process has been hard on Cowan. His treatment began with weekly injections of medicine to suppress his immune system and slow the swelling. He has shown unbelievable perseverance during this process, and while I won’t go too deep into the details, I want you to have an understanding of his journey.

As adults, we know that as we age our bodies cannot do what they once could… but imagine yourself as an active 8 years old, and suddenly your body won’t work like its supposed to. You can’t run, can’t jump, can’t keep up with other kids in the sports and activities you love. Every week you get a shot, and those shots make you so nauseas that you throw up because you know they’re coming. To say it has been hard for him is an understatement.

It has been crushing to watch Cowan go through this. As a father, it is heartbreaking, to not have answers, to feel helpless against something that is causing so much pain. I am SO proud of Cowan and how he has never complained, NOT. EVEN. ONCE. He is my inspiration and why I am playing in support of the Arthritis Foundation!

If you didn’t know that kids get arthritis soon, you definitely do now! Cowan and I ask that you join our team, support the research and donate in honor of all the kids who deal with Juvenile Arthritis every day! Someday soon our children won’t have to go through this!

TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT JUVENILE ARTHRITIS!!

In September 2024 I’ll be bicycling the Arthritis Foundation California Coastal Ride.

Will you please help fund my ride? The fee to ride is $3500, and whatever I can raise on this GoFundMe page will help me as a bicycle advocate, especially as an advocate for bicycling for older people with arthritis, like myself. I’ve had a spinal fusion and a hip replacement but I can ride a bike at age 67.

Many people have to give up running because of arthritis but are able to continue to exercise by bicycling.

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit The Arthritis Foundation, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about The Arthritis Foundation: The Arthritis Foundation is boldly pursuing a cure for America's #1 cause of disability, while championing the fight against arthritis with life-changing resources, science, advocacy, and community connections.