The Hidden Disease Stealing Childhoods

Nearly 1 in 100 Canadians lives with spondyloarthritis, and many of them are under 18. Every year, hundreds of Canadian children develop the disease, many spending their school years in pain before anyone realizes what’s wrong. Pain shouldn’t be part of growing up. 

By the time most people finally receive a diagnosis, childhood is already behind them. For a disease that impacts more than half a million Canadians, Canada shockingly has one of the longest delays to diagnosis in the world, longer than in Asia, South Africa, and Europe. While early intervention is possible, children here often wait years longer for answers.

Where Your Donation Goes

Every dollar helps shorten the time between pain and diagnosis, ensuring children get the care and answers they deserve. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Public Awareness:
  • Help fund nation-wide campaigns that help parents, teachers, and communities recognize that “growing pains” could be a sign of inflammatory disease
• Doctor & Clinician Education
  • Support education programs for family doctors, pediatricians, and physiotherapists so they can recognize early symptoms and refer kids sooner
• Advocacy & Health Equity
  • Help us work with provincial ministries of health to improve access to pediatric rheumatology care and ensure all kids are seen and treated sooner
• Youth & Family Support
  • Provide trusted information, support, and connections for families navigating life before and after diagnosis

Together, We Can Help Kids Trade Pain for Play  

Your donation fuels a national movement to shorten Canada’s delay to diagnosis, giving children back what matters most: their childhood.  

A child should be chasing dreams, not diagnosis. Your gift makes that possible.   

You can’t take away the pain, but you can take away the wait.