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RA can be life-changing, but you can be the one to change your life

Becoming a mother, retraining, going self-employed and setting up an NRAS group. How NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh did all this after her RA diagnosis.  To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), we celebrate inspirational women everywhere, women such as our very own amazing NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh.  “I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of […]

I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life

I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it!  My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […]

A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA

Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […]

Why Major Jake P Baker stays ‘faithful in adversity’

Major Jake P Baker discusses a life in the army, his diagnosis of RA and how his healthcare team, family and NRAS have helped him through his journey with RA.  I retired from the Army on 30th April 2013 after nearly 42 years’ service – man and boy. I enlisted 6 days after my 15th birthday, taking […]

It all started with a pain in my right wrist

My RA is still in remission and I am able to enjoy activities like cycling and walking. Last August we had a family holiday in Wales and I managed to climb Snowdon – a real sense of achievement. I do still get some pain and swelling in my joints, especially my wrists and hands, but compared to where I […]

Mrs Verma talks about her story of RA, importance of family support and support groups.

It’s taken a while to gain confidence and trust myself but I’m now running 3-4 times a week covering approx. 30-40k

I should be the new Rory Underwood… 18 years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and like many fellow sufferers it has been aggressive, and tough to live with at times. It blighted what should have been the best years of my life whilst nurturing my young family. Hello I’m Matt, 52 years old, […]

RA will slow you down. But don’t let it stop you.

I’ve always been naturally fit and active and I’ve exercised and played sport my whole life. My main passion has always been football and I was lucky enough to play at a semi-pro level, but in the summer of 2015 when I was 27 years old, I was really into running. I was running around […]