Hi, my name is Ava and I'm 11 years old.  Last year, I complained to my parents of stiffness in my wrist.  At first we all thought I had just sprained my wrist but after a couple of visits to the doctors and several weeks of no improvement, I went to see a physio.  I was then told to see a wrist specialist but he could not understand what was going on so eventually I was taken to see Dr Hasson in London.  He is a paediatric rheumatologist and very nice.

Dr Hasson suggested that I have a MRI scan which was very scary but my dad stayed with me and I listened to some good music.  A few weeks later, after a few blood tests, we went to see Dr Hasson and I was told that I had Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - Rheumatoid Factor Positive.  Basically, arthritis affecting several joints.  I had the issue in my wrist (the worst affected joint), my fingers and one of my feet.

I had to have an operation and I was sent to sleep while Dr Hasson injected my affected joints with special medicine that would hopefully help me get my movement back.

Since the operation I have been on medicine known as Methotrexate which I have to take every week for a whole year and Folic Acid which I have to take every day.  However, I now have full movement in my joints and feel much better.

It's likely that I will have to stay on the medication for longer but as long as I feel better, I don't really mind.

I feel that I have been really lucky having Dr Hasson look after me and have asked my mum and dad if I could do something to raise money for a children's charity that helps children with arthritis.  I have read about the Children's Chronic Arthritis Association and also noticed that Dr Hasson is a Patron.  I like to walk and climb big hills so I have decided that I will attempt to walk to the top of Snowdon with my mum and dad and anyone else who wants to join me and try to raise £500, hopefully more, for the charity.

I hope you can help me.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a rheumatic condition affecting children and young people and can take several different forms. CCAA is a volunteer led charity run by people who have been affected by JIA and are passionate about supporting others. We have no statutory funding and have to fund raise every penny we spend. Donations help to fund all the projects and events we run across the country and of course all the family support services we operate too. Without donations we simply can't continue to support families that need our help.