“What does wearing blue mean to you?”
Is the question I’ve been asking children that live with Juvenile Arthritis over the past few months.
“Wearing blue means that people do care about the pain I’m in each day.”
“My friends can see that I’m not ashamed of living with Juvenile Arthritis.”
These are just two of the many answers I received.
Why was I asking children that live with Juvenile Arthritis this?
October is a very special month in many ways for myself. It’s the month Kids Arthritis celebrates its
2nd
birthday! The month we hold Australia’s Biggest and Bluest Night for Kids Arthritis, Arthur’s Big Blue Night, but it’s also National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.
Blue is the colour of Kids Arthritis. It represents the courage and smiles that children living with the pain of Juvenile Arthritis have. This October I invite you to wear your favourite
blue shirt, socks, jacket, dress, anything that’s blue to show that you support children living with Juvenile Arthritis.
It’s a simple thing you can do to support the 1 in 1000 children in Australia living with Juvenile Arthritis. I also encourage you to upload your blue outfit onto social media to show me, your friends and family online that you support children living with Juvenile Arthritis.
Now, what does the word ‘support’ mean when living with Juvenile Arthritis?
To me, a lifelong severe suffer of Juvenile Arthritis, it means that the people around me in my community, whether that be online or the Adelaide Hills. Want to be there and show that they care about the pain, stiffness
, and isolation that children living with Juvenile Arthritis endure.
So, this October I invite you to wear something blue to show that you support children living with Juvenile Arthritis.
Through Kids Arthritis I've been able to begin many life changing and Australian First Education and Support programs and events to the children, their families and children all over the world living with Juvenile Arthritis.
This has only happened because of people just like you. Yes, you reading this blog but, what you're really doing is learning more about Juvenile Arthritis which now means you are now an advocate for this hidden yet common condition.
There's one Australian First program that I'm really proud of. It's not our School Support Program or our Online Support Group. It's our Southern Support Group.
Why?
Well all I ever wanted and still want is to meet others living with Juvenile Arthritis, no matter their age or severity of the condition. Like thousands of others around the world, I just want to meet others like me. This is so I can share with them about my condition, my highs, lows and just know that someone else actually understands what I have to live with everyday!
I know I'm not alone as everyday I hear from children, their families and carers just looking to connect with others just like them. This is why Kids Arthritis Southern Support Group means so much to me.
What I would have given just to have a group like this growing up. I know it would have made a huge difference to my conditions.
If you're reading this and live with Juvenile Arthritis or know a family who does. Please invite them along to Kids Arthritis next FREE Support Group: www.facebook.com/events/241781209598283/
Arthur's Big Blue Night is Australia's Biggest and Bluest Night in support of the 1 in 1000 Children in Australia living with Arthritis.
It's a lot of work, no wait. It's a MASSIVE amount of work that goes into create this Big Blue Night for children living with Juvenile Arthritis.
Just like Kids Arthritis Australia everyone involved is a volunteer and the event is no different.
Volunteers or as we call them, KAVolunteers come from all over the country to volunteer their time for Kids Arthritis Australia.
This year is very special as it is our second annual event and we are having LIVE local acts at the event! Local harpist and guitarists will join us this Saturday night. The biggest LIVE act is Katie, KAWarrior who battles Juvenile Arthritis will once again bring joy to all who attend through her piano.
The yummiest part of the evening is all the delicious local produce that is served to all that attend. These delicious sausage rolls, cakes, sandwiches, everything you could ever image. Are made by local KAVolunteers for the guests to enjoy. You never go home hungry from a Kids Arthritis event!
Inspirational Speakers will grace the stage sharing their journeys battling Juvenile Arthritis and what it's really like living each day in pain.
There's an auction, live music, fresh, local home baked food, inspiration and the Auctioning of the famous Kids Arthritis Quilt!
It's a night out for the whole family and it's happening THIS SATURDAY from 7pm!
If you can't attend but still want to make a donation, please head to the Kids Arthritis website.
I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday!
Why was I asking children that live with Juvenile Arthritis this?
To me, a lifelong severe suffer of Juvenile Arthritis, it means that the people around me in my community, whether that be online or the Adelaide Hills. Want to be there and show that they care about the pain, stiffness, and isolation that children living with Juvenile Arthritis endure.
