The Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC) is kicking off the new year with a Kickoff Rally in support of its 14th Annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Charlotte.

The party will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 6:00-8:00PM at All American Pub located at 200 East Bland Street in Charlotte (28203). 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 https://2015cltkickoff.eventbrite.com.

The 14th Annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Charlotte will be held on Saturday, May 16 at Central Piedmont Community College – Belk Plaza located at 425 North Kings Drive in Charlotte (28204). Check in begins at 3:00PM and the Walk starts at 5:00PM. 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 http://walktoendlupus.kintera.org/charlotte.

“We look forward to another great event where participants can experience firsthand the power of the movement to end lupus,” said Christine John-Fuller, President and CEO of LFANC. “This is a great opportunity for the community to come together to take steps for lupus and unleash their power by raising funds for lupus research and local support services, while increasing awareness for those who suffer from lupus.”

In 2014, more than 2,300 people gathered at Central Piedmont Community College for the Walk to End Lupus Now and raised more than $126,000 – making it the highest grossing Charlotte Lupus Walk – and walked to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for national research and local support services to help the estimated 10,000 people in the Charlotte area who are living with lupus.

The Walk to End Lupus Now: Charlotte is one of four LFANC walk events across North Carolina and countless others across the nation. The other N.C. events will take place in Raleigh (Sunday, April 19), Asheville (Sunday, May 3) and Fayetteville (Saturday, May 30). 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. 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.