By: Jennifer Thompson

In October 2016, Cassie & Friends welcomed over 350 kids, parents, caregivers, siblings, healthcare professionals and volunteers to their 8th annual Family Day conference for Juvenile Arthritis and other Rheumatic Diseases – the largest such event ever held in Canada.

The 2016 conference theme was “Hand in Hand,” celebrating C&Fs commitment to provide kids and families with the chance to connect, learn and have fun in a supportive environment. Kids and teens enjoyed a fun-filled day of supervised activities & outings, while parents participated in educational and social sessions lead by healthcare professionals. Topics included presentations on medications, anxiety, physical activity and sleep issues.

Parents who attend Family Day say it’s a great place to meet other affected families, an important source of quality information and that it improves their ability to care for the child. The event was attended by the entire Pediatric Rheumatology team from BC Children’s Hospital as well as researchers form the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute – a true “hand-in-hand” partnership to ensure children and families affected by arthritis receive the best possible care and outcomes.

Next year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at a soon to be determined location in the Vancouver-area. Families from BC and beyond are welcome to attend. To learn more about the event and what it means to families, you can check out their 2016 Family Day video here.

For more information about Cassie & Friends Society, please visit www.cassieandfriends.ca.