Oli was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) last year
An East Yorkshire teenager has been recognised by a national charity. Juvenile Arthritis Research has praised Oli, 14, for his incredible efforts to raise awareness that arthritis can affect children too.
Oli, from Driffield, was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) last year. He was recently honoured at the charity’s Race for a Cure event, where he was presented with a special cap signed by Formula 1 stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as a thank you for his dedication to raising awareness and funds.
Before his diagnosis, Oli went from being a keen rugby player with the under 14 Driffield RUFC to not being able to move, walk or get out of bed. After numerous doctor and hospital visits, Oli was referred to Leeds General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with JIA.
After his diagnosis, Oli began treatment immediately and underwent surgery a week later. With medication and treatment, Oli is now back training and playing for Driffield RUFC, and recently captained the first game of this season.
Oli decided to raise both awareness of the condition and vital funds for Juvenile Arthritis Research, who provide advice and support to families. So far he has raised more than £3000 with the help of the local community.
He said he is grateful to Driffield RUFC who have supported his endeavours. Explaining his motivation, Oli said: “I want to help other children like me to get treatment quicker. It took ages to find out what was wrong, nobody knew.”
Clare, Oli’s Mum, added: “We had no idea that arthritis could affect children. More families need to be aware of this condition and know that charities like Juvenile Arthritis Research exist – so they don’t feel alone, and can see that, with the right treatment and support, children like Oli can still thrive.”
JIA is a serious autoimmune condition that affects around 1 in every 1,600 children in the UK. According to Juvenile Arthritis Research, children with JIA may appear healthy on the outside, making it an “invisible illness”.
Public awareness remains low on the condition, with symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue coming and going, and can often missed or misunderstood. The charity said that the serious autoimmune disorder can cause lifelong joint damage and even blindness if not caught early.
Rebecca Beesley, founder of Juvenile Arthritis Research spoke of her praise for Oli and his family. She said: “Oli and his family are making an amazing difference to other children with arthritis.
“Too many children are told their pain is just growing pains. But delays in diagnosis can lead to lasting joint damage or even loss of vision. If your child suddenly struggles to walk, write, or do something they could before, don’t ignore it. Speak to your GP and ask them to think JIA.”
For more information about the symptoms of JIA, visit www.jarproject.org. To read more health stories on Hull Live, click here.
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