Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association (CCAA)
Manor Law is proud to support the Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association (CCAA).
The Children’s Arthritis Association is a leading charity run by parents and professionals to provide help and information for children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and their families. The charity is run entirely by volunteers and all the money raised goes towards the payment of its various projects including an annual weekend away for children with JIA and their families.
The weekend away allows the children, and their siblings, to spend time having fun with other children with JIA whilst the parents attend various lectures presented by medical experts in the field. The charity also produces regular newsletters and organises various events to bring together parents from all around the country to share information and experiences.
About one in a thousand children in the United Kingdom suffer from JIA. It is the most common form of persistent arthritis in children and differs significantly from arthritis commonly seen in adults The symptoms of JIA are often non-specific initially and include lethargy, reduced physical activity, and poor appetite. The first manifestation, particularly in young children, may be limping. Children may also become quite ill, presenting with flu-like symptoms that persist. The cardinal clinical feature is persistent swelling of the affected joints. Pain is also an important feature of JIA. So far, the actual cause of JIA remains a mystery. However, there is a strong belief that the disorder is autoimmune meaning that the body's own immune system starts to attack and destroy the joint tissues for no apparent reason. JIA appears to be more common in young girls and the disease is most common in Caucasians. JIA is a chronic disorder which, if neglected, can lead to serious complications.
If you wish to donate, please contact us so we may provide you with our bank details. Alternatively, if you wish to donate directly to the CCAA, please visit their website.
Scleroderma Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London
Manor Law is proud to support the Scleroderma Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis, is a severe and potentially life-threatening rheumatic disease. It is rare, affecting 1 in 10,000 people. The disease causes scarring and damage to the blood vessels and internal organs such as the lungs, heart and kidneys. It also leads to the hardening or thickening of skin, hence the name scleroderma.
There is no cure for it.
Treatment of complications in the lungs and kidneys are improving, and progress is being made in understanding the disease generally, but more is needed. Despite the serious impact of scleroderma on vital organs and quality of life, it receives much less attention than other diseases. The Scleroderma Unit at the Royal Free Hospital has the largest centre specialising in scleroderma in the UK and it is led by Professor Chris Denton. The Scleroderma Unit undertakes ground-breaking research in understanding the root cause of the disease and finding new therapies. Donations to support the clinical and research activity of the Scleroderma Unit are invaluable to providing better and safer treatments for patients.
If you would like to donate, please contact us so we may provide you with our bank details. Alternatively, you can contact the hospital directly . If doing so, please clearly state your donation is for the Scleroderma Unit.