Support Team Kinoah
Kinoah Mitchell currently plays for the Boys 2004 Gold team. He has blossomed as a standout goalkeeper and exceptional teammate throughout his years with Rangers. He has two younger siblings who are also current Ranger players.
Kinoah: A Mother’s Story
Kinoah, our oldest boy, was late to walk (about 16 months) and we didn’t think much of it until he stopped walking altogether just a few short months later. Following lots of Children’s Hospital appointments, including blood draws, x-rays, MRI’s, bone scans, physical therapy and months of parental anguish, Kinoah was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Rheumatoid Arthritis (JIA) at two years old. Additionally, it was discovered that he has a spot on his brain with some scar tissue around it and was given a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. The next many months and several years have been focused on how to manage Kinoah’s JIA. He has had to endure joint injections and invasive medications to manage inflammation. When Kinoah was in elementary school, he wore braces on his legs and attended sometimes twice weekly physical therapy to manage his pain and increase range of motion.
Kinoah has been told by more than one doctor or specialist that, based on his physical limitations, he will “never be the athlete” he dreams of being.
Kinoah has been told by more than one doctor or specialist that, based on his physical limitations, he will “never be the athlete” he dreams of being. He constantly battles asymmetry in his body, fragile (and many broken) bones, atypical balance, and daily pain and muscle tightness/fatigue. Yet, despite the inconvenience of a stretching routine and occasional hot packs (or ice baths depending on the day), he refuses to be defined by his arthritis. We are constantly in awe of our boy’s determination and passion for soccer.
Join Team Kinoah!
This is where the Bellingham Arthritis Foundation comes in! The folks there were and continue to be so compassionate and helpful when we were a family in medical crisis! They offered education, resources, and networking opportunities to connect with other families with kiddos affected by this debilitating disease. We are so grateful to them and excited to fund raise again this year, on their behalf, in honor of Kinoah! Historically, Kinoah has been the top fundraiser for the local Arthritis Foundation and we hope this year won’t be any different! We love our community and would love to make this an even bigger opportunity for all to get involved! Kinoah is team captain for the Birch Equipment team! We have been fortunate that his dad, Stephen works for a company that has been so supportive and charitable to the Arthritis Foundation (and many other causes) over the years! There are two ways to contribute!
- Join our Birch Equipment JBR Team! Click on this link Join Kinoah’s Team if you are interested in getting a T-shirt to memorialize that you participated in the event! The registration fee is $35 (but only $30 if you register before 11/1). Your registration fee will be counted toward the overall Birch Equipment team fundraising goal. OR
- Go to Kinoah’s webpage by clicking this link Donate to Kinoah and make a donation directly to him! You won’t get a shirt or bells to jingle, but your donation will count toward his personal fundraising goal. Perhaps if enough people from the team want to participate, we can get matching T-shirts for the team (independent of the JBR shirts??) Keep in mind, anyone can join us on the run/hang out in the tent, either way that you donate.
Each year, the top 5 fundraisers are assigned a VIP tent with hot cocoa and cookies! It would be super cool to get the Rangers Club more involved. Here is a history of where Kinoah’s earnings have fallen over the last several years of him being the team captain!
2018 – $2,902.50 (2nd place)
2017 – $2,121.00
2016 – $2,256.00
2015 – $3,703.00
2014 – $885.00
2013 – $907.66
Totaling $12,775.16 over the last 6 years of involvement!
Let’s keep up the reining championship! It’s pretty fun to see Kinoah get so competitive about his fundraising! He’s solicited teachers, coaches, doctors/dentists, neighbors, friend’s parents and anyone else who will listen!
–Morgan Mitchell (Kinoah’s Mother)
