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WORD Day (World yOung Rheumatic Diseases day) happens every year on 18th March. It’s the biggest date in the calendar for raising awareness that children and young people get rheumatic diseases like Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
Here at Juvenile Arthritis Research, we’ve been huge supporters of WORD Day since it began. We are WORD Day Ambassadors and part of the international organising committee. Each year we’ve led the way in raising awareness in the UK with our WORD Day initiatives, which you can read about at www.jarproject.org/word.
Many of you have been helping to raise awareness, too. And one day just isn’t long enough to showcase all the amazing things you have been doing. That’s why we are introducing JAM JAR – Juvenile Arthritis Month by Juvenile Arthritis Research – with WORD Day at the heart of it.
We know that many children, young people and adults with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) continue to do incredible things despite their condition. Whether you're involved in sports, arts, music, writing, design, or anything else, we know you are talented, skillful and unique. And we want to help celebrate that. This Juvenile Arthritis Month we want to hear from you, showing the world that you are more than your arthritis.
Download and print a copy of our #MoreThanMyArthritis poster, and write something about you in the space. You might want to say I am "a footballer" or "a dancer" or "a poet", or you might want to describe yourself... I am "amazing", "awesome", "incredible". Choose words to describe you that you are happy to share to show the world how you are more than your arthritis.
You can share on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, or any other social channel you are part of. Include the hashtags #ThinkJIA and #MoreThanMyArthritis and tag us so we can share your picture and help raise awareness that children and young people get arthritis - but that you are more than your arthritis.
Siblings can get involved, too - just download and print out this poster, take a snap holding it and share on social media!
Everything we do is made possible thanks to you. Our fundraisers, donors and supporters are bringing hope to those with JIA. There are lots of different ways that you can fundraise and support us.
Packed full of ideas and resources to support your fundraising, our free fundraising pack will help you get started as you plan your fundraising event for Juvenile Arthritis Month in March. Don't have time in March? Don't worry - you can fundraise for us at any time of year!
If you can't think of an idea, check out this handy list of suggestions. There is almost no limit to what you can do to raise funds for Juvenile Arthritis Research. From sponsored events to quiz nights, days out to magic shows, let your imagination run wild!
Depending on how you are fundraising, you might find an online fundraising page helpful. We can be found on many fundraising platforms. One of the easiest for you to use is JustGiving. Find out more here. Some organised events (such as marathons) might ask you to use their own platform - if we aren't on there yet, let us know and we can make sure we're added.
Offline donations can be sent to us by bank transfer. Full details can be found here. It's really important to drop us an email once your fundraising is complete.
Actually, we'd LOVE to know about your fundraising way before it's over! Send us information about what you're doing, links to your online fundraising page, photos of the event, and let us know how it all goes. Once it's finished, drop us an email (kipo@jarproject.org) to let us know how much you raised and how much you've sent by bank transfer to us so our volunteers can make sure you get a thank you message.
Think of some ways to help raise awareness that children and young people get arthritis, and consider raising funds for our vital work at the same time.
How about a JAM JAR related activity using an empty jar? Fill a jar with coins; guess the number of sweets/coffee beans in a jar; fill a jar with treats to sell. Use your imagination to raise awareness and raise funds.
Hold a class or school assembly (or ask your teacher to talk about JIA).
Ask your school to have an own clothes day in March to raise funds for Juvenile Arthritis Research.
Cake sales, quiz nights and sponsored activities are always popular ways to fundraise.
Contact your favourite celebrity, music artist, sportsperson or author on social media and tell them that children get arthritis too. Please remember to tag us as well, so they can follow us and find out more about JIA.
Contact your local media/press and tell them about your fundraising event or activity and all about JIA. If the local media do include an article, please let us know! We can also give quotes and interviews on behalf of Juvenile Arthritis Research, so feel free to put journalists in touch with us at kipo@jarproject.org.
Visit the JAR shop, buy an awareness-raising item of clothing, and wear it to your event or in your local area.
Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment help reduce pain and prevent permanent disability and loss of eyesight from JIA-related uveitis.
Many people don’t understand the variability of JIA or some of the challenges that children and young people with JIA face.
Improved awareness helps children and young people with JIA feel less alone. Together, let’s bust the myth that arthritis only affects older people!
Whilst many children and young people with JIA will go into remission, the actual diagnosis of ‘juvenile’ idiopathic arthritis remains for life. It does not get renamed to other forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. It’s really important for those with JIA, and for GPs and other clinicians, to understand this so that people can get the right treatment and care if their arthritis flares in adulthood.
Increased awareness really does change lives.
We are grateful to PReS (the Paediatric Rheumatology Europe Society) for their support of our awareness raising work.
