Charlotte Mason, a 10-year-old Albert F. Ford Middle School student, has been helping to raise money for awareness and to find a cure for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. She recently hosted a Gingerbread House Contest and posed for a photo with parents and Hannah Hergenrather, Director of Development for The Arthritis Foundation, at left. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
ACUSHNET — In 2021, while spending the day at a local beach, Charlotte Mason’s parents noticed her knee was the size of a softball. After many tests and a knee tap, doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital confirmed a diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
At first, as Charlotte struggled with JIA, she limped and couldn’t run or keep up with her young friends.
“Many kids with arthritis look like they are fine,” said Charlotte’s mother, Katie-Ann Mason. “On hard days, they don’t always cry out publicly. But it is a rollercoaster of flareups, avoiding flareups, treatment injections, being immunocompromised and surviving cold and flu season, and sometimes additional diagnoses, lots of appointments and missed school — things that make kids feel different in a way they really don’t want.”
Charlotte, now a 10-year-old Albert F. Ford Middle School student, loves art, reading, gaming, horseback riding, and playing outside.
A Gingerbread Competition
Charlotte and Katie-Ann lead the Merry Masons, a family-focused team set on raising funds to fight JIA. Last month, the group raised $275 for JIA after holding a Gingerbread House Contest.
“We get into holidays in the Mason house, and cutesy gingerbread characters and houses are some of our favorite ways to decorate and feel cozy during the holiday,” said Katie-Ann. “We always make a gingerbread house and we even like to consider our own house a gingerbread house at Christmas, brown with green shutters and colorful sparkles. When it came to picking an event that would be cost effective and bring the community together, we wanted to share something from our favorite time of year, in a way participants could make their own and be creative and competitive.”
The Merry Masons donated the supplies. They kept costs low by shopping at an inexpensive store and getting family to chip in.
“Everyone had a lot of fun, and they were very creative,” said Katie-Ann.
The Vieira family won the Gingerbread House Contest with their snowy white Christmas-themed creation. They received an official gingerbread tree house kit and an official Jingle Bell Shirt and real Jingle Bells. Two runners-up received shirts and bells, as well.
Faithful Supporters
Hannah Hergenrather, Director of Development for The Arthritis Foundation, attended in support of the event, Charlotte and The Merry Masons. Miss Apple Peach Elyza Wagner and Jr. Miss Apple Peach Aubrey Sousa, representing the Apple Peach Program, also attended. Kristine Vardo and the Acushnet Public Schools PTO provided invaluable resources, helping to spread the word and align support for the event as this year’s PTO community service event.
“We are so grateful to the community for supporting Charlotte, us, and this extremely important initiative,” said Katie-Ann. “We also want the Acushnet Administration and the PTO to know we are so grateful for supporting the Gingerbread Contest and helping us spread the word in schools.”
In Worcester, Charlotte recently served as this year’s Jingle Bell Run MA Youth Honoree. She was nominated by her Rheumatology team at Boston Children’s Hospital and has been sharing her story through fundraising and different activities throughout this process.
Her Jingle Run team raised $2,107 in total and was named a “Top Team.”
Charlotte said she wants other kids with juvenile arthritis know they are not alone, and she also hopes to help find a cure for the disease.
“One thing I want everyone to know is that it’s not easy to have arthritis,” Charlotte told the Jingle Run crowd. “Doctor’s appointments can make you miss school or stop you from playing at recess or being active, and pain can often cause me to lose focus. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. My arthritis has ups, and downs, good days, and bad days. So just enjoy the good ones! You’ll overcome the bad.”
If you’re interested in donating to the cause, click here, select “support us” and donate to The Merry Mason’s on their team page.
A Long Road
In 2022, after noticing a size difference in Charlotte’s left eye and telling her family she had pain and pressure in her eye, they saw an ophthalmologist, and Charlotte was also diagnosed with uveitis. Since then, she has received expert care and attention over the past four years from all of her doctors and the staff at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Charlotte’s arthritis and uveitis have finally abated enough that she now enjoys horseback riding, Girl Scouts, swimming, drawing, and most recently started playing lacrosse. She also participated in the Jingle Run.
“She’s now a very active 10-year-old thanks to the treatment and her inner strength and positive attitude,” said her mother. “We hope her story will help spread awareness about JIA and encourage children living with the diagnosis.”
Superintendent Dr. Paula Bailey commended the young fundraiser and everyone who joined efforts to bring awareness to an important cause.
“It warms my heart to see so many turn out to support Charlotte in her fight against Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis,” said Superintendent Dr. Bailey. “Events like this are key to sustaining an active, vital and empathetic school community.”
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Miss Apple Peach Elyza Wagner and Jr. Miss Apple Peach Aubrey Sousa attended Charlotte Mason’s Gingerbread House Contest. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
Miss Apple Peach Elyza Wagner and Charlotte Mason evaluated the Gingerbread House Contest submissions. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
Acushnet families packed the recent Gingerbread House Contest to raise money to fight JIA. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
The submissions were sweet and structurally sound. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
Hannah Hergenrather, Director of Development for The Arthritis Foundation, helped guide a young gingerbread house builder to the submission table. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
In Worcester recently, Charlotte Mason served as this year’s Jingle Bell Run MA Youth Honoree. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
Charlotte Mason’s arthritis and uveitis have finally abated enough that she now enjoys horseback riding, Girl Scouts, swimming, drawing, and most recently started playing lacrosse. She also participated in the recent Jingle Run in Worcester. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
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