Current News

July is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Awareness Month

As July is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), International Awareness Month, we want to raise awareness of ALL auto-immune diseases by educating and informing friends, family, schools, employers, and the greater population about JIA.

  • JIA affects not just joints, but it can affect other organs too!
  • JIA is NOT like Osteoarthritis in old people.
  • JIA is the immune system attacking a child/teenager’s joints etc, causing swelling, and stiffness.
  • JIA is an auto-immune disease.
  • JIA is diverse and can fluctuate from morning to afternoon to night, and from day to day.  No two days are the same!

July 2022 – KWANZ COMPETITION

Kids With Arthritis NZ is running a competition in July. Entries close 31st July 2022 at 5pm.

Submitted messages will be selected at random to receive a prize.

We would like for those affected by JIA and other auto-immune disease, including their KWANZ family members, to write a short message, that we can publish, on:

How has KWANZ helped you on your health journey? OR

How have you benefited from the support of KWANZ?

Load your message directly onto our KWANZ Facebook Page or Email your message to the Secretary:-

[email protected]

Zara is chopping her hair to support kids with Arthritis!

Zara decided to celebrate JIA Awareness Month in July by giving her ponytail the big chop! She has set up a give-a-little page to get sponsors, and then she’s going to send her hair to Freedom Wigs in Dunedin and the money she gets for that is also coming to Kids With Arthritis NZ 🙂

Please support Zara. Zara is 10 years old and a KWANZ Warrior. Even though she has Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) herself, she is fundraising for KWANZ.

Either use the QR code below or click on the Give-A-Little link below to support Zara. The Fundraiser closes on 31st August 2022 Thank You for supporting Zara and KWANZ.

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/chopping-my-hair-to-support-kids-with-arthritis?fbclid=IwAR2ftsJw1RlkKcg7yoqLFPiPscQe5APh5DqYD_6z9pfBPRqH0Wvsvw-l87U

CrossFit 564 – Gym in Oamaru is Fundraising for Kids With Arthritis NZ

The gym in Oamaru, CrossFit 564, is focused on building stronger communities. CrossFit 564 is supporting Kids With Arthritis NZ by fundraising and taking our JIA awareness campaign to the Oamaru community.

A Give-A-Little page has been set up, either use the QR code below or click on the Give-A-Little link below to support CrossFit 564. The Fundraiser closes on 31st August 2022. Thank You for your support.

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/juvenile-arthritis-awareness

 

Kids With Arthritis NZ Charitable Trust – Annual General Meeting

Monday 15th August 2022 at 7.30pm by Zoom

The zoom invitation & reports have been emailed out to all KWANZ families.

Please contact the Secretary if you did not receive them.