Queen’s student who inspired national charity leads first-ever Cassie + Friends Kingston Run for juvenile arthritis awareness

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Queen’s University students are bringing a national movement supporting children with rheumatic diseases to Kingston.

Cassie Porte was just 20 months old when she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, pain and fatigue. Her parents helped launch Cassie + Friends, Canada’s only charity dedicated to supporting families and funding research into childhood-onset rheumatic diseases.

Now a third-year Health Sciences student at Queen’s, Porte is helping organize the first Team Cassie + Friends Kingston Run on March 7 at City Park, in partnership with the Queen’s Rheumatic Disease Club. The event aims to raise funds for research and treatment while also connecting students and local families living with rheumatic diseases.

Listen to the full story to hear from Porte on her journey and bringing the run to Kingston.

Community members can register or donate through the Cassie + Friends website.