As World Arthritis Day (12 October) approaches, Warrington’s own rising motor racing star Daniella Sutton, 17, is using her growing platform to raise awareness that children and young people can get arthritis too – a fact known by fewer than 1 in 5 people in the UK.
Currently competing in the BRSCC Junior Championship as part of her 2025 campaign, Daniella has her sights firmly set on reaching the top of UK and World Motorsport and hopes to be selected for a place in the F1 Academy. Earlier this year, she was named a British Racing Club Rising Star. Behind the wheel, Daniella is also navigating a very different challenge – Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Diagnosed at the age of 12, Daniella lives with the chronic autoimmune condition that causes painful joint inflammation, often misunderstood as something that only affects older people.
Daniella has become an ambassador with the charity Juvenile Arthritis Research, who are the only UK-wide charity focusing solely on JIA. They provide advice and support so that no one with the condition feels alone, raise awareness of the condition, and help to drive research towards a cure.
Speaking of her appointment, Daniella said, “I want young people living with invisible illnesses like arthritis to know they don’t have to slam the brakes on their ambitions. With the right treatment and support from charities like Juvenile Arthritis Research, we can still thrive.”
In the UK, around 1 in every 1,600 children is diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) – about 10 families each week face the news that their child has a lifelong condition with no known cure. Often called an “invisible illness”, JIA symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness can come and go, and are frequently misdiagnosed as “growing pains”. Delays in diagnosis can lead to lasting joint damage and even vision problems caused by JIA-related uveitis.
Rebecca Beesley, Founder of Juvenile Arthritis Research, said, “Families should know that if their child suddenly struggles to do something that they could do before, such as walking, sitting cross-legged, or holding a pencil, it could be because of joint pain or being less mobile. Please speak to your GP and ask them to think JIA.”
For more information on JIA symptoms and support, visit www.jarproject.org
