Six-year-old Rebekah Boyd who was diagnosed with chronic juvenile arthritis when she was 15 months old . . . IT's an often crippling condition normally associated with the elderly, but arthritis affects 14,500 children in the UK and more than half of those diagnosed will continue to suffer throughout their lives.

Not an optimistic prognosis and as well as the physical symptoms of swollen, painful damaged joints - which sometimes require major replacement surgery - teenagers face psychological problems too.

Sticking to rigorous medication, undergoing regular physiotherapy and wearing cumbersome splints are the last thing style-conscious youngsters want to think about when all their friends are going out enjoying themselves, and they often rebel against the restraints arthritis places them under.

Now there's a charity GRACE - Give Rheumatoid Arthritis Children Encouragement - which is working to raise cash to improve the lifestyle of youngsters with arthritis and give vital help and support to families with a child who has arthritis.

Based in St Annes, near Blackpool, GRACE was founded by the parents of six-year-old Rebekah Boyd who was diagnosed with chronic juvenile arthritis when she was 15 months old.

The patron of the group is Dr Eileen Baildam, Consultant Paediatricain at Booth Hall Children's Hospital where the vast majority of youngsters with arthritis go for treatment.

Dr Baildam is a consultant paediatrician who has specialised in rheumatology.

Rebekah, was referred to Dr Baildam by her GP as she was semi wheelchair bound and had very poor mobility.

For four weeks Rebekah was admitted for intensive physiotherapy and a complete revision of her drug intake. When she was discharged she walked out of hospital under her own steam and continues to make good progress.

In addition to a valuable support network GRACE produces a regular newsletter and has recently hooked up to the internet.

Its quest to raise funds for research into the incidence of juvenile arthritis runs alongside the desire to build a desperately needed hydrotherapy pool in the Blackpool area.

Such pools are widely regarded as being of enormous benefit to youngsters with arthritis and at present there's only one such pool specifically available to youngsters at Booth Hall.

Anyone interested in finding out more about GRACE which has a shop within its registered office at 50, Wood Street, St Annes can contact them on 01253 720303.

The fax number is 01253 728070. The web page can be found at: www.fyldecoast.co.uk/grace/grace.

The Arthritis Research Campaign which recently organised a nationwide awareness raising initiative has submitted a bid to the National Lotteries Charities Board.

Working on behalf of the Paediatric Rheumatology group, the Lady Hoare Trust and the Children's Chronic Arthritis Association, the bid is for a three year £200,000 project, which aims to improve the quality of life of adolescents with juvenile arthritis.

If successful, a special advisory board will draw up a transitional programme for care to be implemented in local centres, addressing issues such as education on health care including alcohol, sex, illicit drug use and diet and independent living.

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