The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) is bringing the golden traditions of New Orleans to Charlotte in celebration of Mardi Gras. The Ninth Annual Lupus Mardi Gras Gala will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 from 7PM-Midnight at CenterStage@NoDa located at 2315 N. Davidson Street.

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. Tickets are $150 per person and must be purchased by Feb. 11. 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 $438,000.

“This gala is such a fun and festive annual tradition that not only raises funds and awareness for lupus, but brings the spirit of Mardi Gras to the Queen City,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of the LFANC. “We look forward to another great evening and for everyone’s support in helping us ‘unmask lupus.’”

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

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.