NEWS

Join us for Education Day 2022

Saturday, October 15, 2022
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Canad Inns Polo Park
1405 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg

Please join us on Saturday, October 15^th, 2022 for our Education Event and Annual General Meeting. It is an opportunity to get together, meet others in the scleroderma community, and learn more together about living with scleroderma.

The topic for our Education Event is the diagnosis, treatment and management of interstitial lung disease. Our two expert speakers, Dr. Terry Colbourne and physiotherapist and repiratory educator Dana Kliewer, will share the current trends in diagnosis, treatment and management, and help us better understand this serious complication of scleroderma.

Please register here before October 9th . This meeting will also be available to attend via Zoom.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

All members of the scleroderma community in Manitoba are hereby notified of and invited to the 2022 Scleroderma Manitoba Annual General Meeting October 15^th, 2022 at 10:30 am (during the Education Event.)

You will hear the latest update on the activities of Scleroderma Manitoba over the past year and our plans for the future. Financial, Walk 2022, and standing committee reports will be presented in this brief meeting. 

Register here. This event will also be available to attend via Zoom.

Consider getting involved!

Participating as a Director on the Sceroderma Manitoba Board is a great way to meet others in the community, learn more about scleroderma, and help to continue to provide support to the scleroderma community in Manitoba and make it even stronger.

We are seeking volunteers to fill vacant board positions: Vice President and three Directors-at-large (patient community support, communications, and education.)

Interested? Have questions? Email sclerodermamb@gmail.com

Education event and AGM details

This is an in person meeting; Covid precautions will be taken. You can register to attend the meeting via Zoom if you are not yet comfortable meeting in person. 

Patients, family members, supporters, medical professionals and allied health providers are ALL welcome to attend.

There is no cost but registration is required by October 9^th for in-person attendees and by October 13^th for Zoom attendees.

Coming from outside Winnipeg?

Some financial assistance may be available if you need to travel some distance to attend the meeting in Winnipeg. Please email sclerodermamb@gmail.com by September 28^th to apply.

Agenda

Location

Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park
1405 St. Matthews Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0K5

Walk for Scleroderma Manitoba 2022 Highlights

This years walk was a great success thanks to participants both virtual and in-person, our donors, sponsors and volunteers.

Watch the video below for highlights from St. Vital Park.

Thank you again to our sponsors for this year’s Walk for Scleroderma:

Join us!

We are seeking volunteers with a background in education and fundraising to join the Scleroderma Board 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.

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.

The 2022 meeting dates are available here.

Scleroderma Manitoba Research Grants

Information and applications for Research and Professional Development grants are available 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 2022 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.