For most of her life, Georgina from Rotherham has been living with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a chronic autoimmune disease which causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack the joints, leading to inflammation and stiffness. Although arthritis is often associated with older people, approximately one in every 1,000 children under 16 lives with it too. The condition can affect the whole body and often requires several different types of treatment.
Diagnosed before her second birthday, Georgina has faced years of appointments, tests, and treatments. But through it all, Sheffield Children’s has been by her side.
Managing her condition has meant regular appointments with the hospital’s rheumatology team, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. Following a significant flare-up, Georgina has also faced changes to her medication, including starting a new biological treatment.
Despite the challenges, Georgina has always felt reassured by the team caring for her. From watching films during scans to travelling in adventure-themed lifts, it’s the little things that have helped make her hospital visits less daunting.
Her mum, Julie, said: “It’s incredible to see the way they treat her. She feels so confident when she visits the hospital, and they help her to feel that she is managing her condition herself. They talk to her directly and make sure she understands everything and can make choices about her care.”
For Georgina, some of the most meaningful experiences have been those that help her feel less alone. At a hospital craft workshop, she met other children living with arthritis and discovered that they understood exactly what she was going through. She even had the opportunity to reassure a younger girl and her family who were beginning their own journey.
In December 2025, when Georgina needed steroid injections in two of her joints, the team offered her a virtual reality headset so she could go on a safari instead of focusing on the procedure. It’s moments like these that show how the right support can make care even kinder and bad days brighter for children facing difficult experiences.
Inspired by the care she’s received; Georgina has become a dedicated fundraiser for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity. She previously completed a 30km walking challenge before taking on an incredible 100km, raising £857 with the support of her family, friends and local community.
Georgina also proudly supported Pride of Yorkshire, regularly checking in on the lion sculptures closest to her home and making sure they were being looked after. It was another way for her to show her support for Sheffield Children’s and be part of something special in her local community.
As Sheffield Children’s celebrates 150 years of caring for children and our charity marks 50 years of making a difference, Georgina has embarked on her fourth and biggest fundraising challenge yet.
Her Big Mission sees her walking, swimming and cycling 150 miles over 150 days, with the aim of finishing on the hospital’s 150th birthday on 15 November 2026. Starting the challenge aged 11 in June 2026, and turning 12 along the way, Georgina had hoped to raise at least £150 to help other children and families experience the same kindness and support she has received. So far, she has raised over £800!
For Georgina, it’s her way of saying thank you to the hospital that has been there for her throughout her childhood, and helping make sure other children living with long-term conditions can feel supported, understood and less alone.
For 50 years, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity has proudly stood alongside Sheffield Children’s, funding the life-changing and the joy-sparking. Thanks to people like Georgina, we can continue bringing play, laughter and comfort to children and families when they need it most.
Support Georgina’s fundraising via her JustGiving page.
Inspired by Georgina? Celebrate our 50th anniversary by taking on your own fundraising challenge and helping us make a difference for the next generation of children at Sheffield Children’s. Get in touch on fundraising@sheffieldchildrens.org to chat about your ideas.
