The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) is hosting a Kickoff Rally in support of its 8th Annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Raleigh.

The party will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 6:30-8:00PM at the Holiday Inn Express located at 3741 Thistledown Drive in Raleigh (27606). The free event is an opportunity for attendees to meet other walkers and teams, share fundraising ideas, get new tips, receive walk materials, and learn how being a part of this event can make a difference in the community. RSVP and sign up at http://2016wtelnkickoffraleigh.eventbrite.com.

The 8th Annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Raleigh will be held on Sunday, May 1 at North Carolina State University – Centennial Campus located at 851 Main Campus Drive. Check in begins at 1:00PM and the Walk starts at 3:00PM. While there is no registration fee for the Walk, every walker is considered a fundraiser, and each walker is encouraged to raise or donate $100 or more. To register, visit www.lupusnc.org.

“Our Walk is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together to take steps for lupus and raise funds for lupus research and local support services,” said Christine John-Fuller, President and CEO of LFANC. “Participants can experience firsthand the power of the movement to end lupus, while increasing awareness for those who suffer the brutal impact of this disease.”

In 2015, more than 1,300 people gathered on the North Carolina State University Centennial Campus for the Walk to End Lupus Now and raised over $93,000 and walked to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for national research and local support services to help the estimated 5,200 people in the Triangle area who are living with lupus.

The Walk to End Lupus Now: Raleigh is one of three LFANC walk events across North Carolina and countless others across the nation. The other N.C. events will take place in Charlotte (Saturday, April 16) and Fayetteville (Saturday, May 14). The Walks are conducted nationwide by the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) and its national network to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus, and rally public support for those who suffer from its brutal impact. Those interested in participating can register as an individual or with a team. There is a 1-mile route and a 5K route option. The suggested minimum fundraising goal per person is $100, which is the amount where participants can start earning prizes.

To RSVP for the Kickoff Party or to register for the Walk, visit www.lupusnc.org or contact the LFANC at 877-849-8271 or 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. 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.