Kids get arthritis too!

Kids get arthritis too!

I’m going to have fun this year!

This weekend 6 year old Amelia will again head off to the Arthritis New Zealand annual camp at the beautiful Totara Springs Camp near Matamata. She will be joined by 32 other young children, newly diagnosed with different forms of arthritis and their siblings, parents and caregivers. 87 in all.

Amelia bounced in to camp last year on Friday afternoon, auburn curls bouncing and filled with excitement. On Saturday morning she was drawn and in pain and spent the rest of the weekend very miserable. “This is the reality for children with arthritis” says Sandra Kirby, CEO of Arthritis New Zealand.

Amelia from Lower Hutt has (JIA) and was first diagnosed when she was four. Her excitement is building now a few sleeps out from camp and she gets a plane and bus ride to get to camp. She is looking forward to meeting new friends and having fun, even though she has arthritis.

6 year old Amelia has weekly methotrexate injections given to her by her parents. Something they would never have contemplated ever having to do!
“Arthritis does occur in children – and can be treated. Like many conditions early diagnosis and treatment give better outcomes says Sandra.”

It important that the children learn they are not the only one with this condition and gain skills, meet new friends and some new ideas on living day to day. They will challenge each other on the multitude of activities available, then relax aching bodies in the warm pool.

Amelia’s mum is looking forward to meeting other parents who understand what it means to have a child with arthritis and learn from their experiences.
Finding out you have arthritis doesn’t need to hold you back and they will enjoy activities like abseiling, flying fox, archery, raft building, kayaking and then the fun of the warm water hydroslide.

It is important that the parents and caregivers get to meet other adults caring for children with arthritis. For while the camp is primarily for the children, many of the adults will never have met anyone else who has a child with arthritis.

Our annual camp is made possible with the generous support of individual donations and organisations such as Pub Charity.

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