Ty Clayton: A Run to “Make Arthritis Famous”

Ty Clayton is not your average athlete. As a child, he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory arthritis that affects the back, hips, and often other parts of the body.

After living with the incredibly painful, and often severely debilitating, condition for 20 years, he plans to run across the continent to raise funds for arthritis research.

His first run took place across Vancouver Island this October and covered a total of 500 kilometers over 12 days. He has raised $15,000 for arthritis research so far. In July 2026, he will run over 7500 kilometers from the Arctic Ocean to Baja, Mexico.

“I want to make arthritis famous,” said Ty. “I want to find a cure, see better treatments, more resources and understanding on how to help people with these conditions.”

Living With an Invisible Disease

Ty first remembered experiencing symptoms during a childhood trip to Disneyland. While walking through the park, his eyes became bloodshot. A trip to the children’s hospital confirmed that he had iritis, an inflammation of the iris in his eye. If he had waited any longer to seek medical attention, he would have gone blind.

He started developing his first major symptoms of AS when he was 14.

AS is a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis. It attacks the spine and major joints, causing pain, stiffness and eventually the fusion of vertebrae. There is no known cure.

Since Ty was young and there weren’t any visible signs of his condition, he often wasn’t believed when he told people about the pain he experienced.

“Having ankylosing spondylitis, it’s a battle all the time.”

– Ty Clayton

Finding Strength and Purpose

The disease affected his ability to be active, and he lost the ability to run consistently. When he was at his lowest, he was bedridden and addicted to drugs.

“I was very athletic and played lots of sports. Having this condition stripped me of all of it,” he said.

Ty told himself that if he could ever overcome the struggles of his condition, he wanted to do something to show that it was possible to get out of a dark place.

Growing up, Ty was inspired by the stories of Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, two athletes who raised funds and awareness for their respective conditions. He wanted someone to do the same for arthritis. By completing these runs, he will be the hero he always wanted to be.

“Ty’s efforts will not only raise vital funds for research, but also bring visibility to ankylosing spondylitis, a condition many have never even heard of,” said Dr. Diane Lacaille, the Scientific Director of Arthritis Research Canada.

Ty has also connected with others who have AS. He shared his story at fundraising events and started an online AS support group.

“I hope people with chronic conditions can see that they don’t always have to think about the worst sides of their conditions,” he said. “They can overcome a lot more than they think.”

You can follow Ty on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To donate to his fundraising page, click here.