In June of 2008 my Mother was diagnosed with Lupus and since then I really became aware of what Lupus is, the effects, its prevalence, and the treatment (or lack thereof). For our family, it has caused some lifestyle changes, but most importantly it has really forced me to be grateful and thankful for what I have and to not take anything (big or small) for granted. Things like enjoying a nice sunny day, because sun exposure causes "flare ups" for many Lupus patients like my Mom. Or on the opposite spectrum enjoying time outside, like playing lacrosse in February or March - because the cold can cause numbness and pain. Things you never really think about, but can have a huge impact on your life are the things we should be thankful for. I learned that Lupus is a disease of which the cause is still unknown, over 1.5 million people (men, women, teens, and children) have Lupus and more than 16,000 new cases are reported each year, and that women, particularly women of color, are more likely to develop the disease. However, the most striking discovery I came upon was that there is no cure for Lupus. But even more importantly, it has been over 50 years since a new drug has been introduced to control the symptoms of Lupus primarily because it became a "forgotten" disease, taking a back seat to diseases such as AIDS/HIV and Cancer with regards to funding for research and development. Today my mother is prescribed the same medications that Lupus patients were prescribed in the 1960's and with our efforts as a team this year we hope that we can take strides towards beginning to change that, not only for her but the many people across America that are affected with this disease.
If you'd like to participate in the walk here is the info:
Walk for Lupus Now
July 11, 2010
Hare Pavilion
Wilmington, Riverfront - Delaware
Check in at 7:30 am, Walk begins at 8:30 am
You can also participate by walking as a "virtual team member," register for TEAM ROBYN:
You can also participate by making a donation on the behalf of my mom:
This past season, my lacrosse team dedicated our service efforts to the Lupus Foundation, here is a link to the article:
Tomorrow I am walking for my mom. Walking to support her. Walking because its what she's always done for me.
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