Scleroderma Manitoba Education Event and Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting and Education Event was held on Saturday September 23, 2023 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Canad Inns Fort Garry.
It was an opportunity to get together, meet others in the scleroderma community and learn more together about living with scleroderma.
Summaries of the education event and AGM will follow soon – stay tuned!
Join us!
The Scleroderma Manitoba Board of Directors currently has five vacancies to fill: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and 2 volunteers with backgrounds in education, communications or fundraising to join as members-at-large.
If this sounds like you, or you’d like more information, email us at sclerodermamb@gmail.com or call 204 510-2855.
New educational information about Scleroderma
Over the past few months we’ve added new information sheets related to living with scleroderma.
Read or download them here.
SclerodermaNews.com
Scleroderma News is “The Web’s Daily Resource for Scleroderma News”.
It’s a good site to bookmark for the latest in research and information about scleroderma.
Scleroderma Manitoba’s Support Group is there for you.
Scleroderma Manitoba hosts support groups for scleroderma patients, their families, and their supporters.
We are holding online support groups due to Covid-19, but hope to return to in-person meetings some time in 2024.
Upcoming meeting dates and details are available here.
Did you miss a previous Support Group meeting?
Find summaries and resources from previous meetings on the Support Group page.
Scleroderma Manitoba Research Grants
Information and applications for Research and Professional Development grants are available here.
Thank you from Dr. Brett Thombs and SPIN
Brett Thombs, Director of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) has written a letter of thanks to our scleroderma community regarding COVID-related research.
Read Dr Thombs letter here.
SPIN Progress Report
The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) has released their Progress Report. Read more about SPIN here.
Welcome to Scleroderma Manitoba
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been living with scleroderma for some time, or if your spouse or partner, child, parent, or family member has been diagnosed with scleroderma, or if your friend, co-worker, or employee has scleroderma, YOU are a part of the scleroderma community in Manitoba.
This site is here to help you find support and to learn more about scleroderma, current research, advocacy and ways to volunteer.
Click here for information about COVID-19 vaccination for scleroderma patients.
The Bulletin
The Spring/Summer edition of The Bulletin has arrived. Click here for details.
About Scleroderma Manitoba
Read more about Scleroderma Manitoba and its Mission here.
Research
Find the latest information on scleroderma research here.
Get involved
Check out volunteer opportunities and ways to donate.
What is Scleroderma?
Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis or SSc) is a largely misunderstood chronic disease affecting about approximately 22,000 Canadian and five to six times more women than men are affected by this disease.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which a person’s immune system turns against itself by producing antibodies that attack its own tissues (i.e. autoantibodies).
The word “scleroderma” is derived from the Greek words “skleros” (hard) and “derma” (skin) and is characterized by progressive skin hardening.
Scleroderma is characterized by an overproduction of collagen and damage to the blood vessels that causes excessive scarring within the various organs. This imbalance leads to a hardening of the skin (fibrosis) and an alteration of the affected organs.
Moreover, in most cases scleroderma limits the motor skills and dexterity of those affected and causes great physical and psychological suffering since it produces disfiguring appearance-related changes. Learn more.
