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May is Lupus Awareness Month – Get to KNOW LUPUS

Bookmark and Share Charlotte, NC - May 02, 2016 -

The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) wants the public to get to KNOW LUPUS. Research shows that nearly two-thirds of the public knows little or nothing about lupus. The LFANC is committed to changing that as part of its ongoing educational and advocacy efforts and in commemorating Lupus Awareness Month in May.

“We encourage everyone to take action and get involved in Lupus Awareness Month to make a difference in improving the quality of lives of those living with this devastating disease,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of LFANC. “Lupus is more pervasive and severe than people think. 45,000 people in North Carolina live with its brutal impact every day. Everyone needs to KNOW LUPUS to create a future with NO lupus.”

During Lupus Awareness Month, the LFANC is asking the public to “Put On Purple” by wearing purple and telling people why they are showing their support for all people – including 45,000 North Carolina residents – affected by this disease. Put On Purple Day takes place on Friday, May 20 and is an awareness initiative that started in North Carolina and has since expanded nationwide.

Other notable lupus awareness activities throughout the month include:

• Lupus Awareness Month in May recognized in North Carolina: Gov. Pat McCrory and several cities are proclaiming May as Lupus Awareness Month throughout the state.

• Take the KNOW LUPUS Challenge: Play the KNOW LUPUS card game and test your understanding of this cruel disease and challenge others to KNOW LUPUS. Visit lupus.org/know.

• Companies can Pump Up The Purple: Take your purple to the next level and Pump Up The Purple by asking your office or company to dedicate Put On Purple Day, May 20 or any day in May to raising awareness and funds for the Lupus Foundation of America.

• Make Your Mark™ in the fight against lupus this May by creating your own unique event to raise funds and awareness to support the millions of families affected by lupus. The LFANC will give you the tools you need to turn your passion into a way to raise money for a great cause.

• Throughout May: Support Group Meetings

• May 10: World Lupus Day: Lupus has no boundaries. More than 5 million people around the world have lupus.

• May 14: Walk To End Lupus Now: Fayetteville

• May 18: Teleconference – “Lupus & Primary Care”: Adegbenga A. Bankole MD, FACP, with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will discuss the importance of the role a Primary Care Physician plays in ensuring quality care to patients with lupus. This free teleconference will cover the impact of lupus on diseases that are care for by Primary Care Physicians, ranging from hypertension to cancer and teach participants preventive measures to take.

• May 18: Purple Lighting of Duke Energy Center (Charlotte): The building will be purple an hour before sunrise and again 30 minutes before sunset until midnight.

• May 20: Put On Purple for lupus awareness.

• May 25: Asheville Lupus Empowerment Seminar – “Complementary and Alternative Treatment Methods”: Sheetal Vora, MD with Levine’s Children’s Hospital will discuss the increased interest in other healing practices to try to improve overall health, treatments in addition to medications and traditional medical care from doctors. These diverse therapies – used either with conventional medicine (complementary) or instead of conventional medicine (alternative) – include homeopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, massage therapy, meditation, and supplements.

The public can learn more about lupus and ways they can get involved in improving awareness of lupus this month by visiting the LFANC's Web site at www.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. 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.

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Contact: Jenni Walker
Email: jennifer@walkerprgroup.com
Phone: 704-649-6571