Juniper Beaty — June — has been my best friend since second grade. When we first met, she sat down next to me and announced, “Hi, we’re going to be best friends.” She was correct. Since that day, I’ve watched June nurture all kinds of life — plants, animals, people, and creative projects. If something in her life needs a little help to thrive, June is right there. These days she works at SCRAP Creative Reuse in Ann Arbor, which inspires creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior and keeps tons of usable materials out of the waste stream. She’s also an amazing mom to my favorite teenager in the world.

June lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which makes her joints unstable and prone to painful subluxations and dislocations. Knee braces are a big part of how she manages day-to-day mobility and helps keep her knees from slipping out of place. The braces she’s been using (funded by a previous fundraiser) have finally worn out after years of use. Good braces are expensive, and replacing them is the only way for her to keep moving safely and with less pain.

This fundraiser will help cover the cost of a new pair of high-quality knee braces so June can stay mobile — safely — and keep showing up for the people, plants, and projects she cares about. If you’re able to contribute, we’re grateful for any amount. If donating isn’t possible right now, sharing this page with your network helps more than you might think. Thank you for supporting June.