Local Salon Extends Blue Hair Fundraiser for Juvenile Arthritis Research

Local Salon Extends Blue Hair Fundraiser for Juvenile Arthritis Research
(LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.)– Great Looks 4 Less Hair Salon is pleased to announce they are extending their blue hair and feather fundraiser for juvenile arthritis research through the summer. Supporters of the cause can get an extension for $15 and the salon will donate a percent of proceeds to The Kelly Award with the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF), an annual grant awarded to a juvenile arthritis researcher and named in honor of local author and national ANRF spokesperson Kelly Rouba of Hamilton, NJ.
Juvenile arthritis affects about 300,000 children in the U.S. and Rouba, now 31, was one of those children. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a toddler and continues to advocate on behalf of children whose pain is often overlooked as a sports injury or growing pain. For many children, appropriate and safe treatments are not accessible due to their young age and lack of research into effective treatments. The Kelly Award was established in order to give more options to these young arthritis patients.
“There are very few treatment options for children who have arthritis versus adults who have the disease,” said Rouba, who is 2nd Vice President of the ARNF Board of Trustees and author of Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide. “This annual grant of $75,000 funds cutting-edge research projects and last year’s recipient would not have been able to continue her work without the funds.”
Rouba herself has experienced complications from her treatments and is in constant pain most days. As she watched other children and young adults go through a similar experience, she saw this as an opportunity to offer a voice of experience, familiarity and hope with her book. The Ultimate Teen Guide is a self-help guide for children, teens and young adults with juvenile arthritis and she is hoping to spread more awareness about JRA and The Kelly Award with the fundraiser at Great Looks 4 Less Hair Salon.
“We are pleased to help raise awareness for The Kelly Award with the Arthritis National Research Foundation,” said Denise Taylor, owner of Great Looks 4 Less Hair Salon. “Our salon is committed to supporting causes in the local community and the money from the blue hair fundraiser goes towards a cause that few people are really aware of–juvenile arthritis research.”
For more information about the fundraiser, visit Great Looks 4 Less Hair Salon in the Mercer Mall in Lawrenceville or call (609) 378-5360. For more information about Kelly Rouba and how you can support The Kelly Award and ANRF, visit www.KellyRouba.com.
About Kelly Rouba
Kelly Rouba is an accomplished journalist and public speaker. She writes for Action magazine, thisabled.com, and mobilewomen.org. She is also the author of
Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide. Ms. Rouba was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 2 and later became an advocate for those living with all types of disabilities. She held the title of Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey from December 2006-February 2008 and has been featured in numerous news publications and shows, from ABC’s television show Perspective New Jersey to the Wall Street Journal.Ms. Rouba works full-time as a Communications & Emergency Management Specialist for the State of New Jersey and is also a DAE/Special Needs Specialist with the Dept. of Homeland Security/FEMA Region II. Outside of work, she is a member of the Patient Advocacy Institute, the NJ Independent Living Council, the Hamilton YMCA’s Advisory Board, and the Hamilton Township’s Special Needs Commission. She also serves as 2nd Vice President on the Boards of the Arthritis National Research Foundation and e-Quality Productions. She previously served on the Boards of Enable Inc. and Project Freedom.
About ANRF
About Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) Established as a non-profit organization in 1970, the Arthritis National Research Foundation is committed to funding the next generation of research scientists by providing annual grants to promising young investigators with innovative research projects in the germinal stage. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability from which 46 million American adults suffer. Arthritis comprises more than 100 different diseases, including osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other forms of autoimmune diseases. Since 2000, ANRF has given more than $4.3 million in research grants and in 2008 has increased its awards from $50,000 to $75,000. For more information about the ANRF, its grant process or advancements in arthritis treatments, call 800-588-CURE or visit http://www.curearthritis.org.