SABC is excited to announce the

Joan Kelly Memorial Research Fund

This Fund will provide long-term funding for scleroderma research. The annual income from the endowment will be available for research projects, with the capital remaining intact to produce income for future years. 

Joan Kelly was the driving force to the creation of SABC in the 1980s. She maintained connections with patients across the province with her passion for supporting others living with scleroderma.

Read Joan’s story HERE.

Virtual Community Connections – Various Topics and Discussions

For more information and registration CLICK HERE

2022 SABC AGM & Conference

Presentations from the Conference are available on the Videos page of the SABC website.

Dr. Leslie Laing:  Management and Treatment of Oral Complications Associated with Dry Mouth: Tricks and Tips

Dr. Marie Hudson: Progressin Cellular Therapies for Scleroderma

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis or SSC) is a little known and incurable 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).

Scleroderma affects approximately 2,300 people living in BC and 22,000 Canadians. 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.

The skin, digestive system, heart, lungs, and kidneys are the organs most commonly affected by the potentially serious complications of scleroderma, which leads to significant decrease in quality of life and life expectancy. Read more

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Every donation counts

With your support, we can fight scleroderma!

Last updated : 2021 April 24