The 10th Annual Lupus Mardi Gras Gala is bringing the golden tradition of New Orleans to Charlotte on Saturday, March 5, 2016.

The event will be held from 7:00PM-Midnight at CenterStage@NoDa located at 2315 N. Davidson Street and will benefit the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC).

Presented by the Dickerson Family Trust, the event will feature entertainment by Hot Sauce, Creole cuisine, a silent auction, photo booth, fortune teller and more. Guests will also be treated to a Mardi Gras Masquerade Contest, luxury raffle, and crowning of the Gala King & Queen. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Nathan Ritchie, from The Lake 102.9. Tickets are $150 per person (Early Bird rate) if purchased by Feb. 5, and will then be $175 per person through Feb. 26. Guests must be 21 years of age to attend. To order tickets online, by phone or by mail, visit www.lupusnc.org or call 704-716-5640. Table sponsorships are also available. All proceeds "help unmask lupus" and benefit LFANC.

This annual event was founded in 2007 by Dr. Ginger Dickerson, a physician with Eastover University OBGYN. Dr. Dickerson, along with her brother Todd and father Don, created the Dickerson Family Trust to support of the Lupus Foundation of America and to honor their sister, Amy Taylor who was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 20. Since its beginning, the Lupus Mardi Gras Gala has raised more than $500,000.

“This event has become the pinnacle Mardi Gras celebration in Charlotte while raising awareness and funds for lupus,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of the LFANC. “We are part of a national force devoted to solving the cruel mystery of lupus while providing care for those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through our programs of research, education, support and advocacy, we are leading the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Support of the Mardi Gras Gala makes our mission a reality.”

For questions, contact the LFANC office at 704-716-5640 or email info@lupusnc.org. For more information about the 10th Annual Lupus Mardi Gras Gala, visit http://lupusmardigrasgala.kintera.org/2016.

About Lupus:

Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, hits out of nowhere, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation.

About the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter

The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter is part of the national force devoted to solving the cruel mystery of lupus while providing caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Serving an estimated 45,000 living with lupus in North Carolina, the chapter is the center of excellence for those affected by lupus, bridging patients, their families, caregivers, and the medical community. For more information about lupus or the LFANC, visit www.lupusnc.org or call (877) 849-8271. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.