Unity Through Rheumatic Diseases:
In-Person Event
Event Recap
Date & Time:
Sat, May 31 2025
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
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Location: InterContinental Toronto Centre, Toronto, ON​
​On May 31, 2025, Take a Pain Check proudly hosted its first-ever in-person event, Unity Through Rheumatic Diseases — a powerful one-day gathering that brought together over 200 youth, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to learn, connect, and collaborate.
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The event featured four dynamic podcast panel sessions focused on topics that matter to young people living with rheumatic conditions from invisible disabilities and healthcare access to transitioning to adult care and emerging research.
Attendees experienced:
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Lived experience panels highlighting youth journeys through diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy.
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Interactive workshops offering practical tools for managing chronic conditions.
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A research and innovation showcase spotlighting the latest findings and resources.
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Networking opportunities that built lasting connections across patients, providers, and researchers.
Together, we created a space rooted in education, empowerment, and community.​​
A Comprehensive Community Experience
This event showed the importance of making invisible experiences visible. Through storytelling, expert insight, and community building, participants walked away with:
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Greater understanding of youth healthcare needs in rheumatology.
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New strategies to enhance care and patient-provider relationships.
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A stronger sense of belonging and peer support.
We’re incredibly proud of the dialogue sparked and the bridges built across disciplines and lived experiences.
Sessions & Workshops
Session 1
From Pediatrics to Adult Care: Strategies for a Smooth Rheumatology Transition
Session 3
Growing Up with a Rheumatic Disease: Lessons, Challenges, and Perspectives from Adulthood
Workshop 1
Arthritis Life Hacks: Tools for Daily Living
Session 2
Real Talk: Balancing Health, Independence, and Life with a Rheumatic Disease
Session 4
Shaping the Future of Rheumatology: Research, Patient Engagement, and Impact on Young Adults
Workshop 2
Build Your Coping Tool Box: Managing the Mental and Physical Challenges of Arthritis
Event Impact
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Every Contribution Matters
If you are able, consider making a donation to help create a future where youth with disabilities receive the care and opportunities they deserve. Every contribution, big or small, has an impact!
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If you would like to contribute, you can donate using the link below:
https://gofund.me/027efb0e
Thank you for your kindness and support!
Sponsors
Our heartfelt thanks to our leading sponsors for their generous support in making this event possible.
A huge shoutout to our Platinum sponsors for their exceptional commitment to our mission.
We appreciate our Gold sponsors for their invaluable contribution to this event's success.
Raffle Prizes
Thank you to everyone who donated to and who entered into our raffle. We had the opportunity to host a raffle due to the generosity from these amazing companies and organizations.
​$25 Gift Card to The Old Spaghetti Factory​
Luxury Body Butter from the House Of Orion ($50 value)
Two general admission tickets to the Art Gallery of Ontario ($60 value)
Accessible Long Sleeve T-shirt from Porto & Bello ($80 value)
TAPC and Arthritis Society Canada Ergonomic Backpack ($100 value)
2 Tickets to the Shaw Festival ($100 Value)
$150 gift card to Maker Pizza
2 passes to Float Toronto ($200 value)
Blue Jays Kevin Gausman Autographed Baseball ($200 value)
5 class pack, 3 month expiration to Othership ($280 value)
Dermie the Dermatomyositis Duck
At this event, we introduced Dermie the Dermatomyositis Duck, adding our new friend to The AutoZoo-mune Collective!
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Dermie had so much fun, and since this event, has been getting to know Lupie the Lupus Llama and Rheumy the Rheumatology Bear. Interested in learning more about the TAPC animals? Check it out here! ​
