October is Lupus Awareness Month

A Campaign to Educate, Support, Raise Funds for Research

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- Approximately 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, the chronic (incurable) disease that can result in severe joint pain and swelling, fevers, fatigue, fevers, skin rashes, anemia, chest pains, sun sensitivity, and other health effects, including organ failure and death. Lupus mostly strikes women of childbearing age -- between 15 and 44 -- although men and women of all ages can develop the disease as well. October is Lupus Awareness Month and The Lupus Foundation of America, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is sponsoring a number of community events to spread the word about diagnosis and support programs. The purpose of the month long initiative is to educate and support individuals with lupus and their families as well as raise funds to support local programs, services and research in our area.


Lupus awareness month activities:


Lupus Foundation teams up with Wired 96.5 FM "Outside the Huddle"
Meet & talk football with "birds" cornerback Sheldon Brown #24
Q&A, Autographs, food, giveaways & special raffles!
Wear purple, the color of lupus awareness and receive double raffle
tickets.
Monday, October 15th
Chickie's & Pete's 11000 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 6:00-8:00PM

Beginners Guide to Lupus
Series designed to educate newly diagnosed individuals with lupus or those
who have never attended a lupus educational program.
October 23rd, Marple Public Library, Broomall, PA 7:00PM
October 25th, Penn Tower Hotel, Philadelphia, PA 11:00AM

16th Annual Lupus Loop 5K Run/Walk
Join over 2000 participants and GN Kang, the female voice of Wired
96.5FM's Chio In The Morning.
Show support for those living with lupus at a morning of fun for the
entire family!
Sunday, October 28th
Carousel House, Fairmount Park, Belmont Ave & N. Concourse Drive,
Philadelphia, PA
8:45AM Registration 10:00AM start


Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and can go into periods of remission, making diagnosis difficult. A Lupus Foundation of America survey of its members suggests that more than half of all people with lupus suffer four or more years and visit three or more doctors before obtaining a correct diagnosis of lupus.


The cause of lupus is unknown, though researchers believe lupus has a genetic basis and certain environmental influences can trigger disease activity in individuals predisposed to lupus. There is no cure for lupus, but medications are prescribed that can control the disease in most patients. Unfortunately, current therapies for lupus can be toxic, causing other health problems, and no new medicines have been approved specifically to treat lupus symptoms in more than thirty years. But new research offers hope that safer and more effective treatments will be made available in the not too distant future.


The Lupus Foundation of America Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is an affiliate of the Lupus Foundation of America based in Washington, DC. The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, supporting individuals and families affected by the disease, increasing awareness of lupus among health professionals and the public, and finding the cure. Locally, for more information about lupus or the Lupus Loop Run/Walk, visit the Lupus Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania's website at http://www.lupus-sepa.org/, register online for the lupus loop at http://www.lupusloop.org/ or contact our office at 215.517.5070. Education and Outreach activities are sponsored in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.


Source: The Lupus Foundation of America Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter