A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl with arthritis is doing her bit to help a charity which wants to see a world in which no child has to suffer from the condition.

Mia Thompson, from Chester-le-Street, has had juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) since she was just three.

The autoimmune condition means that instead of fighting off viruses, bacteria and infection, her immune system attacks her joints.

This causes pain, fatigue and reduced mobility and Mia also has inflammation inside the eye, called uveitis which affects one in five children with JIA.

Sometimes juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be an invisible condition and people don’t see the daily struggles that children with arthritis face.

However, Mia is determined to help people better understand what she and other sufferers faces and to raise money for the charity Juvenile Arthritis Research, which has supported her family.

A charity spokesman said children also have to deal with often-unpleasant side-effects of medications,a plethora of tests and it can be a strain on the whole family.

Having lived with JIA for six years, Mia, along with her brother Max, six, decided to organise activities in aid of JAR, which funds research for better diagnosis, treatment and towards a cure and supports families.

The siblings’ activities included a guess the number of sweets in a jar competition and they will be joined by cousins Aeva and Freya for a sponsored bike ride.

So far they have already raised nearly £600.

Mum, Jo, said: “It certainly has been a rollercoaster and I imagine the ride is far from over but she is taking it in her stride and makes us so proud every single day.”

She added: “JAR is an amazing charity that is run by parents of a JIA child so they have first-hand experience of what it is like to live with this horrible disease.

“Their vision is a world where no child has to suffer from arthritis. They really are amazing so anything you can donate will be a massive help.”

Richard Beesley, founder of Juvenile Arthritis Research, said: “Awareness that children can get arthritis remains low and this can cause long delays in diagnosis.

“During that time, joints can become permanently damaged. We know that prompt diagnosis and treatment leads to far better outcomes for children with JIA.

“Mia and Max are doing an incredible job of telling people about JIA as well as raising funds to allow us to support more families affected by the disease.”

For details of the charity visit jarproject.org and to sponsor the siblings search Joanne Thompson JAR on virginmoneygiving.com