Post Messenger Recorder -

Jenna McKnight is just like every other 10-year-old, fourth grade student: she goes to school, she has fun with friends and family, and she enjoys life; however unlike most other kids her age, Jenna has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which has impacted her life since she was three years old. Jenna will be honored at the Dane County Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, May 2, at the Vilas Park Shelter.

"Jenna was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was three years old. Originally, the doctor's thought it was Lyme's Disease, but it turned out to be Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis," explained Wendy McKnight, Jenna's mother. "We realized something was wrong when she woke up she would limp and one knee was more swollen than the other."

Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis that Jenna has had to deal with include inflammation of the joints, mainly knees and ankles. These symptoms worsen when the weather is stormy outside.

"When Jenna was in kindergarten we had to send a note to her teacher explaining that she wasn't able to sit 'criss-cross applesauce' due to her arthritis," said Kevin McKnight, Jenna's father. "It's something that a person wouldn't put two and two together unless you've had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or know somebody with it."

This is just one example of how Jenna's life has been impacted by Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Jenna commonly misses out on some activities in physical education class and is not able to be in gymnastics.

"Jenna has always wanted to be in gymnastics, but right now, the doctors are saying that it'd be too hard on her physically. Maybe in the future it will be a possibility," said Wendy. "We really don't know what the future holds for Jenna, but so far, she has been in great health."

To deal with the pain and symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Jenna does a lot of pool therapy, physical therapy, and rehab, along with taking Naproxen two times a day. "If Jenna missed a few doses of her medicine, she would definitely feel painful for a bit," explained Wendy.

One in 250 children in the United States has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis which totals to about 300,000 children and is the leading cause of disability in the United States. The Walk to Cure Arthritis is one way to bring people dealing with similar problems together.

The McKnight family got involved with the Walk to Cure Arthritis three years ago when Jenna saw a billboard advertising the walk. Jenna decided that she wanted to get involved and started fundraising that year.

"Two years ago I raised $600, and then I raised $1,100 the second year," stated Jenna. "I hope I can raise more this year."

As the youth honoree, Jenna will go onstage and give a speech and be a leader of the walk along with the medical honoree and the adult honoree.

"The Dane County Walk to Cure Arthritis can be made up of teams or individuals who want to walk the event. The walk starts at 10:00 a.m., with registration starting at 8:30 a.m., and it is a family-friendly event," explained Hana Conway, Associate Director of Community Development at the Arthritis Foundation and the McKnight family's contact at the Arthritis Foundation. "The walk is 1/3 mile, and there is no registration fee so that fundraising is really encouraged."

The McKnight family has adopted a different strategy this year for fundraising involving a traveling potty. Funds raised help support the Arthritis Foundation and fund research aimed at finding a cure. The Dane County Walk for a Cure is one of many walks going on around the country to raise funds.

"We will be providing a chuckle, and we hope that the whole community will rally around us," said Kevin. "It is either going to be a great success or a great failure."

How it works is that it costs $10 to request the beautifully decorated potty be placed at any specific address in the Belleville area, minus the Police Station, Fire Department, Village Hall, and Public Works building. The potty will be placed front and center at that address. To have the potty removed from that address will cost $15. Another option is to have the potty removed and delivered to another specific address for $10. Finally, a third option is to pay $25 for potty insurance which ensures that the potty does not find its way to or back to your address.

For more information about the traveling potty and Jenna, visit teambean.org. For more information about the Dane County Walk to Cure Arthritis, visit http://www.walktocurearthritis.org.