Lauren Kidd on her new scooter.

John Mccutcheon

JUST like every other teenage girl, Lauren Kidd’s favourite way to chill out is to hang with friends and go shopping.

Unfortunately, until now the Beerwah 13-year-old has not been able to indulge in her hobbies very often because of juvenile arthritis in her hips.

With juvenile arthritis, the body mistakes normal joints as foreign and attacks them.

It is not understood how or why this happens, but it can make mobility difficult.

At the beginning of the school term, a Sunshine Coast-based charity, The Board Meeting, donated a blue scooter to Lauren.

Her mum, Wendy, said the scooter would help improve Lauren’s social life and also make her time at school easier.

“Beerwah school is quite spread out and, in the past, Lauren has had trouble walking around to the different classrooms,” Wendy said.

“Last year, the crippling pain was so bad that some days she had to take time off.

“With the scooter she can overcome this.

“It has given her a lot more independence.”