A young boy who suffers from Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) has just been named BBC Young Reporter of the Year.
11-year-old Evan has been a patient of Sheffield Children’s Hospital since his diagnosis of JIA in December 2022, and is also a keen footballer at Grimsby Town academy.
JIA is a subset of arthritis that affects one in 1,000 children in the United Kingdom, causing joint inflammation and pain.
The cause of the condition is still unknown, and Evan has participated in clinical trials to explore new treatments for the condition.
His inspiring work in raising awareness of JIA was what won him the BBC Young Reporter of the Year award.
Speaking to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Evan’s mum Lisa, said: “We didn’t know what was wrong at first. We thought if he rested from football training he would be better.
“He struggled getting up and down stairs, couldn’t walk long distances and had to stop playing football.
“To see Evan so unwell was utterly heart-breaking. He was in so much pain and couldn’t do all the things he loved.”
Although Evan struggles with JIA, he receives monthly injections at Sheffield Children’s Hospital which has enabled him to follow in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer Ben Davies.
Speaking to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Evan said: “I’m on a clinical trial and even though the injections hurt sometimes, I’m really happy because it helps me go back to football.
“When I grow up I want to be a professional footballer like my dad was, and I won’t let JIA stop me.”