Jingle Bell Children Raise Funds to Fight Arthritis

Calgary, December 1 – Children with juvenile arthritis inspired donors to generously sponsor this year’s Jingle Bell Walk & Run for Arthritis. In particular, the stories of six children motivated family and friends to contribute more than $16,000 to fight the disease.

As the top fund-raiser, eleven-year-old Marissa Sigfusson won a trip for two to Mexico. Diagnosed with juvenile arthritis last year, the Calgary native raised more than $4,000 for this year’s Jingle Bell Walk & Run. On her sponsorship page, Marissa reports that the juvenile arthritis first diagnosed in her knee last year has since spread to six joints. More than 500,000 Albertans live with this often debilitating disease. As Marissa’s case demonstrates, arthritis does not discriminate. It affects women, men and children.

Other top fund-raisers included Zoe Brody (age 12), Rebecca Curran (eight), Jessica Page (four), Noah Jones-Carlson (six) and Claire Moore (three). Claire participated in the event on her birthday – celebrating the day by walking just one kilometre. “When you have juvenile arthritis, that isn’t as easy as it seems” said her mother, Natalie.

The Jingle Bell Walk & Run for Arthritis is a non-competitive, fun-filled family event. Participants captured the festive spirit by placing jingle bells on their shoes as they walked, ran and jogged in support of those living with arthritis. More than 900 people of all ages participated in events in Calgary, Camrose, Lethbridge and Red Deer. Together, they raised more than $115,000.

WestJet generously sponsored return flights for two to any of the company’s Mexican destinations. An anonymous donor contributed the use of a timeshare condominium.

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This page was last reviewed/updated on : 12/03/2009