Fifteen‑year‑old Olivia, who was diagnosed with Lupus at just 11, joined children from across the UK at Westminster for the launch of Inside Arthritis — a week‑long exhibition showcasing artwork created by young people living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
The event, hosted in the Upper Waiting Hall, urged MPs to rethink what arthritis really looks like, with Liberal Democrat MP Manuela Perteghella backing the campaign.
Olivia’s journey has been anything but easy. Before her diagnosis, she endured years of unexplained joint pain and repeated trips to A&E. She felt isolated, unable to join in with her favourite hobbies, and even faced cruel rumours at school when medication caused her hair to fall out.
But everything changed when she found Arthritis UK’s Young People and Families Service and its Joint Creativity art programme — a lifeline that helped her manage both the physical and emotional toll of her condition.
“Being able to colour and express myself helped with the pain in my hands — and helped me cope,” Olivia said. “Growing up with Lupus meant I didn’t always fit in. But meeting others like me showed that things really can get better.”
Lupus affects around 70,000 people in the UK and can strike at any age, yet awareness remains low — something Arthritis UK says urgently needs to change.
The exhibition also marked the countdown to WORD Day (World Young Rheumatic Disease Day) on March 18, which raises awareness of young people living with rheumatic conditions.
Arthritis UK Chief Executive Deborah Alsina MBE said hearing directly from young people like Olivia is vital.
“Inside Arthritis gives parliamentarians the chance to understand the stigma and challenges these young people face,” she said. “Nearly 60% of children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis have needed mental health support. Current services simply don’t reflect the reality of their lives.”
