The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) today announced the King and Queen of its 8th Annual Lupus Mardi Gras Gala.

Travis Manchester and Patty Dunn will be crowned King and Queen of the Lupus Mardi Gras Gala that is presented by the Dickerson Family Trust. The event will take place on Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 7:00PM – Midnight at a new host venue – CenterStage@NoDa located at 2315 N. Davidson Street in Charlotte.

Emulating the Mardi Gras tradition of naming a King and Queen, each year, the King's Court Committee and LFA, North Carolina Chapter Staff select a Mardi Gras King and Queen for that year's Gala. The King and Queen are individuals who exemplify philanthropic royalty.

Manchester of Mt. Airy, N.C. is a lupus advocate. He will be crowned for his ongoing efforts to support LFANC. He attended the National Advocacy Day for Lupus in Washington, D.C. in 2008, has attended the gala the last four years, and supports his sister, Barbi Manchester – a lupus thriver – in all lupus awareness and fundraising activities including: the Kick Lupus Kickball team, Wrestling event and Mayberry’s Butterfly Walk For Lupus.

Ms. Dunn, a lupus thriver and resident of The Village of Lake Park, will be crowned Gala Queen for her dedication to the LFANC for more than 10 years. During this time, she served several positions on the LFANC Board of Directors including Board Chair in 2007-2008. After leaving the Board, she served in administrative capacities for the Chapter during the chapter’s executive transition, and directed and supported several committees, groups and events within the organization. She was honored as the chapter’s Volunteer of the Year in 2008.

“We are look forward to honoring Travis [Manchester] and Patty [Dunn] as our 2014 Mardi Gras Gala King and Queen,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter. “Their support, commitment and passion in helping solve the cruel mystery of lupus is truly commendable. We are excited to have them among our Mardi Gras Royalty at this year’s event.”

Featuring entertainment by Hot Sauce, the Mardi Gras “Carnival” themed-event will include 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. Tickets are $150 per person and must be purchased by Feb. 26. 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.

Previous Gala Kings & Queens include: John Hairr and Susan Rowe (2013); Drs. John and Amanda Grimes (2012); Dr. Peter Capizzi and Brenda Stubbs (2011); and Tony Kouskolekas and Maria Dunn (2010); Richard Sharpe and Zaira Hidalgo (2009).

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 $392,000.

For questions, contact the LFANC office at 704-716-5640 or email at info@lupusnc.org.