Statement made on 23 March 2011 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, one in six Canadian adults is affected by arthritis. It is the leading cause of long-term disability in Canada and costs the Canadian economy over $4.4 billion each year.
We think of arthritis as a disease of the elderly; however, juvenile arthritis, or JA, is one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting children. Juvenile arthritis affects one in 1,000 Canadian children under the age of 16 years.
Honourable senators, to help Canadians better understand this disease, the Arthritis Society has designated March as Juvenile Arthritis Month. During the month of March, activities, outreach programs and fundraising activities across the country are taking place to provide monies for services and research. These fundraising drives help to provide educational programs and services, as well as support research projects to help find better treatments for arthritis.
In my home province, the Prince Edward Island division of the Arthritis Society is holding its annual Go Blue and Give Too! campaign for schools and businesses. It encourages people to wear something blue — a blue shirt, blue socks, or even blue suede shoes — in support of Go Blue Day.
Alex Compton from Summerside, whose juvenile arthritis is thankfully in remission, has persuaded his school to make the whole month of March "blue" in order to raise $2,000 in support of the Arthritis Society in P.E.I. One of his teachers, who herself has rheumatoid arthritis, has even pledged to dye her hair blue if Alex succeeds. I wish all those participating in the Go Blue and Give Too! campaign the best of luck in reaching their goals.
Honourable senators, no one knows what causes arthritis, but scientists have been making real progress. More and more effective therapies have been discovered in recent years. Something can be done to manage most forms of arthritis, which helps to ensure that those who suffer from the various forms of arthritis are able to cope, live comfortably and participate in society. However, it is important that we continue to support research into this disorder. This is the only way to discover new and better forms of treatment and to perhaps someday prevent arthritis altogether.
Honourable senators, I would like to commend the Arthritis Society, all its divisions in the provinces and territories, and its staff and volunteers for the difference they are making. I wish them the very best in their work to eliminate juvenile arthritis.