This year marks our 9th Jingle Bell Run. For the first few years it was just about supporting the mission towards a cure. Brianna had just been diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease at the age of 13 and it flipped our whole family's world upside down.
Luckily, we found community and a sense of hopefulness in the Arthritis Foundation. We are so grateful for the support provided to us by the Arthritis Foundation through the years; from the scholarship Brianna received to attend Camp JRA to the friendships and connections made through other Arthritis Foundation events, our family would be lost without it. Brianna has continued to stay involved with the Arthritis Foundation as a volunteer, member of the Tampa Bay Board, and Event Chair for the Jingle Bell Run.
She frequently shares her story and is educating others on just how complex arthritis is. She constantly hears from others that she is too young to have arthritis. She educates people that there are hundreds of forms of arthritis and it affects babies, kids, teens, young adults, adults, AND older people. She is passionate about challenging people to change the image of arthritis they have in their head because it’s not just older people with joint pain.
We keep jingling to raise awareness, we keep jingling because we have seen first hand how the money we raise impacts real lives through research, resources, and community, but there’s still a long way to go.
Please consider joining us this year in Tampa for the 2024 Jingle Bell Run or consider making a donation if you are able.
Spread the Word!
https://events.arthritis.org/team/rockinreevesramos