An estimated 325 walkers took steps against lupus at the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter’s (LFANC) 3rd Annual Walk to End Lupus Now in Asheville. The event has raised more than $19,000 to date to support lupus programs and services.

“This year’s Asheville Walk To End Lupus Now ushered in its largest ever crowd to date and we owe it to the amazing spirit and support of everyone in the Asheville area,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of the LFANC. “We appreciate our walkers, volunteers, supporters, the city of Asheville and local law enforcement for helping make this Walk a huge success and for being part of our efforts to help solve the cruel mystery of lupus.”

On Saturday, May 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Park served as home to the Walk to End Lupus Now: Asheville event. Participants walked through Asheville to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for national research and local support services to help the estimated 3,500 people in Western North Carolina who are living with lupus.

Event highlights included fun and entertainment for the whole family, including a Kid’s Zone tent and food provided by Bojangles and Zoes Kitchen.

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. We work with local health professionals and volunteers to provide information and programs to ensure people with lupus and their families get answers and health professionals know about new means to diagnose and manage the disease. The chapter serves an estimated 45,000 living with lupus in North Carolina. 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 and Twitter.