Dear #WearPurpleforJIA 2018 Supporters,

A huge thank you to everyone who supported #WearPurpleforJIA this year. Together you have raised over £42,000!  This is an incredible amount and nearly double that raised last year. Without the continued commitment of you, your children and extended family, friends, schools and the wider community, NRAS would not have been able to raise such a tremendous sum, which will be used to deliver our JIA-at-NRAS service to all those who need us in 2019. It costs NRAS just over £200,000 to deliver our JIA-at-NRAS services every year. The funds you have raised this year through donations, sponsorship, dress-down days, cake sales – to name only a few activities – will make a huge difference, ensuring all those who rely on JIA-at-NRAS support can continue to access it, our activities and resources, as and when they need to.

The funds raised this year will enable NRAS to continue to develop its frontline services, including family events and peer-to-peer support by phone and email as well as provide tailored answers, information and support to those who telephone and email for help. Equally as important is our work to raise awareness of JIA, including the organisation of national events, our parliamentary work engaging MPs, commissioners, Health Boards and Key Opinion Leaders on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and enabling JIA-at-NRAS to educate communities about this potentially debilitating childhood condition.

We know that sharing what we have learnt about JIA from you, your family and friends, with everyone who has a part to play in improving the health outcomes of a child or young person with JIA helps to build towards achieving that goal. The money we receive through the Wear Purple fundraising campaign means we can continue to expand the resources and services that enable JIA-at-NRAS to improve the lives of all affected by JIA and, at the same time, supporting the health professionals who deliver care and treatment to children and young people with JIA.

This year the #WearPurpleforJIA campaign has continued to spread the word, on social media, in newspapers, on radio and through schools about the seriousness of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and its impact on all those affected.  Together we have shouted loud, rallied support and increased public understanding of JIA. We know there is still more to do, and we hope that you will join us again next year to keep raising awareness and funds to support all those affected by JIA. 
We would also like to say a big thank you to Lynette Haselip and her daughter, Farah for supporting us and enabling #wearpurpleforjia to reach this level of success in 2018.

Best wishes,

Team JIA-at-NRAS