The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) announced today that it will be offering a support group in Onslow County for those living with lupus, their family and caregivers. The group will meet the second Monday of each month and kick off its inaugural meeting in August:

Monday, Aug. 11, 2014

6:00-7:30PM

Onslow County Memorial Hospital

Education Building, Classroom 1

317 Western Boulevard

Jacksonville, N.C. 28546

There is no charge to attend the meeting, and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the LFANC at info@lupusnc.org or at 877-849-8271, ext. 1. For more information, visit www.lupusnc.org.

Maria Cristina Soto and Henry Moses will serve as co-facilitators of the support group. Soto was diagnosed with lupus in 2008. Born and raised in Columbia, South America, she is married with three adult children and a granddaughter. Adds Soto, “We are very excited about having a support group for Lupus patients in Onslow County.”

Originally from Cali, Colombia, Moses has lived in the United States since 1990. After a career as an aircraft mechanic and then a realtor, he is currently pursuing his passion of becoming a paramedic.

“We are thrilled to expand our support services to residents in Onslow County and surrounding areas,” says Christine John-Fuller, LFANC President and CEO. “We appreciate the efforts of our volunteers, donors and the community for helping us fund this new support group, additional area educational programs, and leading national research to help solve the cruel mystery behind this disease.”

This group provides participants with an opportunity to receive introductory information about lupus, encourage the expression of concerns, provide an opportunity to share experiences, encourage and support positive coping strategies, and emphasize the importance of medical treatment. Meeting programs vary from guest speakers to DVD presentations and open group discussion.

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.