The Mission
The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through the leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.
About Juvenile Arthritis
The reason for this event is to raise money to help people who have arthritis. Over the years, the Arthritis Foundatin here in Peoria has come to know thousands of the faces with arthritis. Many of them have brought a lifelong relationship, friendship and even legacies. We would like to share with you, why it is important to have these events.
Because of our efforts in 2007 & 2008, we were able to send the Martin Family to our National Juvenile Arthritis Conference where they received so much helpful advice and go to meet other families who share the same feelings, fears and experiences. We are also sending a new family to DC to advocate new legislation on behalf of millions of other with arthritis.
Every year, we selct a youth advocate and this year, we selected 5 year old Emma Salverson. Emma is very special to us. Her family works hard to know and understand Emma's diagnosis, they bring her to all of our events and have raised a lot of money in hopes of finding a cure.
In November of 2004, 16 month old Emma came to our Juvenile Arthritis (JA) clinic here in Peoria and was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). Emma is on very powerful medication that requires lots of blood tests, regular visits to the eye doctor and monitoring for stomach problems. However, Emma has been fortunate in that she received proper diagnosis and treatment. Her joints are not as painful and swollen. Emma will be in kindergarten this fall. Every night, Emma prays her arthritis will go away. But for now, having the opportunity to receive great care from our clinic physicians and the hope that a cure is in sight.
Proceeds benefit the nearly 300,000 children under the age of 17 affected by juvenile arthritis. Partnered together with Cops for kids we raised over $12,000 in 2008. Cops for Kids supports "Take a kid to a car show". They are an ongoing program, staffed by volunteers, to present to the children of our neighborhoods, police officers as a positive influence in their lives.