Mike Mahaffey
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree
 Mike was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in his late 30s. Mike has been a martial artist/combat sports practitioner since childhood, and his first rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms were after a Jiu-Jitsu tournament in 2011, where he experienced aches, fatigue, and swelling of the joints in his hands and feet for weeks after the event. Encouragement from his wife led him to see his doctor, and was referred to a rheumatologist and diagnosed with RA.
Mike has had times where RA has made doing what he loves difficult, but it has never stopped him. He continues to practice martial arts, teaches Jiu-Jitsu at Magic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Lansing, MI, and competes avidly. In July 2024 he was ranked 5th in the nation among male black belts in the Fuji BJJ organization. He teaches seminars around the country and encourages his students to cater to their strengths and play a Jiu-Jitsu game centered around longevity in the art. He is married with two teenage daughters, and works as an Employment Specialist at Peckham, Inc. |
Janine is an avid distance runner. In late 2016 she began to notice an increase in pain and swelling in her feet during training. Eventually the pain, swelling and fatigue made it difficult to get out of bed, let alone train. In February of 2017 Janine was diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 31. Since her diagnosis she has been on multiple biologic drugs and her rheumatoid arthritis has responded well to her current treatment. She continues to run multiple races a year from 5k’s to half marathons. She hopes to be an inspiration for all of the people suffering from arthritis.