Connect with others

In this section you can find stories shared by the NRAS Community. Search for stories relevant to you, and other ways you can join the community.

JoinTogether online groups

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for many RA patients to be able to find new ways to connect with others like themselves. For many people attending a regional group in person may not work for them and through these new digital groups you can connect with others with similar interests and lifestyle choices. All groups are run by NRAS Volunteers.

Find out more

Find a local group

Many people find meeting others living with RA from their own localities to be of great benefit. There are many groups spread across UK offering a great source of RA information and support. All groups are run by NRAS Volunteers. Find out which one is nearest to you.

Read more

Check our upcoming events

Stay up to date with all of our upcoming events. Whether it be online group meetings, local coffee meet ups, our monthly NRAS Lives or even challenge events such as marathons or cycles – these are a great way to get involved and meet others living with RA!

Find out more

Join HealthUnlocked

Sign-up to become a part of our online RA community, HealthUnlocked.

Ask questions and speak to others with RA in our online forum.

Join now

Your Stories

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 […]

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 […]

Browse all stories

I am…
Select topic…

Help support others

Because of your generous donations JIA-at-NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by JIA.

NRAS in 2023

  • 0 Helpline enquiries
  • 0 Publications sent out
  • 0 People reached