Marvellous Mascots and a winning team effort – Pewsey Vale FC raises over £1,000 for children with arthritis

It was great to see so many people get involved in Juvenile Arthritis Month in March. From all the social media engagement with our #MoreThanMyArthritis campaign to incredible events to raise awareness and vital funds to support our work - there was a lot happening for the first time ever in the UK to positively make an impact on the lives of those with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). 

Pewsey Vale Football Club really stepped up to the challenge of making a difference with their fundraising efforts throughout the whole of March. Standing in solidarity with one of their First team players, Andy, who has a young son with JIA, they chose to support Juvenile Arthritis Research. 

Andy's son Finley, was diagnosed with JIA when he was 2. Like many children living with JIA, he has to have weekly injections to keep away the pain and inflammation and has regular hospital visits to manage his condition.

Pewsey Vale set a challenge between their First and Development teams to see who could raise the most in March with a donation tin in their changing room for every game during March.

They also fundraised within the club house too.

The month-long fundraising culminated in the first team's home game on Saturday 5th April, where Andy's son and daughter were mascots for the day.

Finley and his sister Ella loved being mascots for the day and joined in the warm up for the squad.

Pewsey Vale Football Club raised over £1,000 to support our work and we are truly grateful! A huge thanks to all involved. Thank you for helping to change the lives of children with arthritis.

Juvenile Arthritis Month may be over but the important task of raising awareness of JIA and vital funds to support our work continues all year round so if you've been inspired by Finley, Ella and Pewsey Vale Football Club's fundraising and want to make life better for those with JIA by supporting our work, you can request a fundraising pack at www.jarproject.org/fundraising