Arthritis Awareness Month
![This Month @ CS (1) Arthritis Awareness Month](https://centerstagemusiccenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/This-Month-@-CS-1.png)
“As the journey has been long for me, I have found many times that music has helped me get to a better, happier mindset. Music has also helped me motivate myself to keep moving, which is important to do with this disease. Keep on moving!”
Yadira Quintanilla, Co-Founder, Center Stage Music Center
May is Arthritis Awareness Month and we wanted to take a moment to speak further about a cause that is very near and dear to our hearts.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting 60 million men, women, and children across the country. Of that number, nearly 300,000 kids and teens live with juvenile arthritis (JA) or other pediatric rheumatic diseases. These autoimmune diseases affect not only joints, but also skin, eyes, and internal organs, and can cause those afflicted to live with daily chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms.
This upcoming Sunday, May 19th, Center Stage Music Center is hosting our very first ‘Play for Hope Benefit Gala’ at The Warehouse in Amityville. The Gala will be a celebration of food, raffles, special guest speakers, as well as an afternoon of diverse music featuring faculty and student performances to raise both awareness and donations for Juvenile Arthritis Summer Camp. Each Gala ticket purchased sends one child to JA camp! Tickets for this event can be purchased HERE.
![Play for Hope Flyer Play for Hope Flyer](https://centerstagemusiccenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Play-for-Hope-Flyer.png)
Ahead of the event, one of Center Stage’s co-founders, Yadira Quintanilla, spoke to us briefly about living with Rheumatoid Arthritis:
“Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis has affected many aspects of my life. When I was diagnosed, I had a toddler and a newborn baby. I couldn’t care for them as much as I wish I could have. I was too weak and in too much pain to even move around for my own needs. When treatment started, although it helped me with some of the pain, it also brought other side effects that continue to affect my day-to-day activities. As time has gone by, some of my joints have been replaced. I have tried many medications and have dealt with many side effects, but all through this time I’ve been able to keep my job. It has been a hard journey. Sometimes we do not know how much we use our joints until those joints can’t move. Emotionally, it is draining as all of this is a daily hustle. Arthritis has helped me hold onto my faith a lot stronger, as I believe without a doubt that my God has a great plan for me…I hold the Juvenile Arthritis Camps and the Arthritis Foundation close to my heart as I feel that they provide a community for people like me. The camps help kids with a chronic disease enjoy the outdoors and have fun. The foundation works hard at getting funds and bringing awareness for a cure for arthritis.”
The Juvenile Arthritis Summer Camp helps children and teens with arthritis and rheumatic diseases feel seen, gain a greater understanding of their own juvenile arthritis, increase independence and self-confidence, and discover new skills and interests. They provide an amazing opportunity for children to make lifelong friends in a fun and safe environment. We are proud to support such a great cause.
Yadira continues...
“What I would like to tell anyone that has this disease is to take it one day at a time; one step at a time. It’s OK to have those days where it feels like you have had enough, as that only makes us human…but never give up! Although the journey is painful, there is always something to learn and share from every situation. Keep your faith strong.”