EULAR Edgar Stene Prize Competition
Every year, the competition is co-ordinated by EULAR PARE. Competition details are distributed to the EULAR PARE member organisations so they can run the competition nationally. The Edgar Stene Prize is awarded at the Opening Plenary Session of the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology to the person with an RMD submitting the best essay describing their individual experience of living with their condition around a specific topic.
Participate in the next competition through your EULAR PARE national member organisation!
2025 EULAR Edgar Stene Prize topic:
“Growing up with an RMD - learning, transitioning from paediatrics and the impacts on childhood and the family”
Congratulations to the 2025 winner and finalists!
First Prize
Yvonne Balvers, Netherlands
"I clean out the attic. Of that full closet, only one box of mostly paper memories remains. With care I add the scrapbook, which I keep intact. It is a tribute to myself and the tangible evidence of a period that has had a great influence on the rest of my life. […]. There is so much I can do and I consider myself a lucky person. But the lost child with juvenile arthritis is still deep inside me. Brave child, come here, I embrace you.“
Second Prize
Sotia Michael, Cyprus
"Finally, my dear rheumatoid disease... It has been 24 years now that we have been walking together in this life. I met you, you hurt me, I accepted you. I know we will continue together until the end. I only ask you one favour: don’t hurt me too much.”
Third Prize
Kirstine H. Larsen, Denmark
"Altogether, the hardest part of having an invisible disability is probably that it’s not as invisible after all. I can see it on my body, in my family’s exhausted faces, my classmates’ uncomprehending looks, and in the trophies and medals slowly rusting with my old, future self. The hardest part of having an invisible disability is that people forcibly make it more invisible than what it really is — friends, doctors, equals, and even myself.”
Meet the EULAR Edgar Stene Prize 2025 Jury
Corinna Elling-Audersch
Edgar Stene Prize Jury Leader
Prof. Laure Gossec
EULAR Treasurer
Dr. Sarah Bennett
HPR Knowledge Translation Sub-Committee Chair
Agnes Rauter
Young PARE Working Group Member
Stine Wasenius Dahl
First Deputy Chairman and Board member of the Norwegian Rheumatism Association
Irene Pitsillidou
Member of the Knowledge Transfer Working Group
About the Edgar Stene Prize
First awarded in June 1975 during the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology in Helsinki-Finland, the Edgar Stene Prize was created by EULAR to honour the memory of Edgar W Stene.
Related Information
Stene Prize Booklets
Access the Stene Prize booklets from previous competition editions to read the inspiring and moving stories from its winners:
EULAR in the context of persons living with RMDs
EULAR exists to reduce the burden of RMDs on individuals and society, and to improve treatment, prevention and rehabilitation outcomes. It demonstrates the impact of RMDs on society, the economy and individuals – including families and loved ones.
The EULAR family gives its time to share experiences of living or working with a condition, and to raise awareness of the need for early diagnosis and the right treatment at the right time.