The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) has received a $5,000 donation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina in honor of Aniesha Bryant who was named a “Community Champion” for her volunteer efforts with LFANC.

“We are extremely proud of Aniesha [Bryant] for receiving this honor, which is a testament to her amazing dedication and passion in furthering our mission,” said Christine John-Fuller, President and CEO of LFANC. “We are also grateful and deeply honored that she selected us as her charity of choice for the very generous donation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. It’s this type of support that helps us get a step closer to solving the cruel mystery of lupus and helps provide lupus programs and services throughout the state.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina celebrates the Month of Thanks in November, recognizing “Community Champions” – volunteers who set an example for all who wish to contribute meaningfully toward making North Carolina a better place to live.

Bryant was chosen as a “Community Champion” for her service to LFANC as donations chair for the annual Walk to End Lupus Now in Raleigh and her contributions to the Walk planning committee. A Raleigh resident, she is also a lupus thriver and Team Captain for her lupus team, the Heavenly Butterflies. As a Month of Thanks honoree, Bryant selected LFANC as her charity of choice to receive the $5,000 donation.

“I enjoy every moment of volunteering, whether I am volunteering at the Walk itself or volunteering at one of the lupus workshops or vendor information sessions at a specific company,” said Bryant. “I have always had a passion to help others, but volunteering for LFANC has helped me to be bolder about what I believe in and to help others to see their potential as well.”

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.