Marisa Boatman of Woodbury is the 2012 Juvenile Arthritis March Honoree.

Most people assume arthritis is an “old person” disease, but Marisa knows differently. 

Marisa, daughter of Mark and Karen Boatman, was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Arthritis at 10 years old. Now 16, Marisa is joining the efforts of the Arthritis Foundation at the Juvenile Arthritis March (JAM) on Saturday, March 3, at the Mall of America.

The goal of JAM is to raise awareness and funds for arthritis programs and services offered by the Arthritis Foundation.

This is Marisa’s sixth year of participating in JAM. She and her team are working to raise more than last year ($3,885).  

On Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, the Boatmans are hosting a Silent Auction and Coffee House event at The Alley Church in Cottage Grove (7955 Ivystone Ave.). 

The silent auction is from 6-7 p.m. and the music begins at 7 p.m. Coffee and desserts will also be available. This is a family friendly event and the public is welcome.   

For more information, email jamevent2012@gmail.com.

Despite her arthritis, Marisa still manages to be active.

She is currently enjoying horseback riding lessons. Throughout the past six years, Marisa has been on many medications with a variety of side effects. She is happy to be down to just two medications now. She doesn’t even mind the weekly injection of Enbrel anymore.  

The community can help raise awareness and funds by spreading the word, joining us at JAM or making a donation: www.woodburyboatman.com will take you directly to Marisa’s donation page for JAM.

ABOUT JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Juvenile arthritis is a general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children. Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood forms of lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or other types of arthritis. Children can be diagnosed as early as 6 months of age. Juvenile Arthritis is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses affecting over 300,000 kids in the U.S.

ABOUT THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases—the nation’s No. 1 cause of disability. For more information contact Kelsey McDonough at kmcdonough@arthritis.org or 651-229-5365.