About 7 million individuals in the United States are affected by scoliosis, according to the National Scoliosis Foundation, and the majority are female. Despite this, many young girls find it hard to meet others who know what they’re going through.
This is why 14-year-old Sheridan Follis and her mother, Kelly, decided to start the first Minnesota chapter of Curvy Girls, a nonprofit group that provides a network for connecting and sharing scoliosis experiences. “Finding all of these girls and coming together, it was amazing to see that I actually wasn’t alone,” Sheridan says.
The Stillwater chapter now has members from across Minnesota, with ages ranging from 6 to 16. The monthly meetings give the girls a chance to build friendships by talking about scoliosis and anything else going on in their lives.
“We usually have a craft, but sometimes never finish because we end up talking so much,” Sheridan says with a laugh.
Stillwater chapter meetings are the third Saturday of each month. Visit the website here for more information.
