An estimated 1,200 people took steps against lupus at the Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter’s (LFANC) Sixth Annual Walk To End Lupus Now in Fayetteville. To date, the event has raised more than $41,000 to support leading lupus research and local programs and services.

“This year’s Fayetteville Walk To End Lupus Now was a huge success we owe it to the amazing spirit and support of everyone in the community,” said Christine John-Fuller, President & CEO of the LFANC. “We appreciate our walkers, volunteers, supporters, and the City of Fayetteville for coming out despite the rainy weather and for being part of our efforts to help solve the cruel mystery of lupus. That’s a spirit no amount of rain can dampen.”

On Saturday, Sept. 13, Festival Park served as home to the Walk To End Lupus Now: Fayetteville event. Participants braved the rain and walked to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for national research and local support services to help the estimated 4,000 people in Cumberland County and surrounding areas who are living with lupus.

Event highlights included Gilbert Baez, Jr. from Foxy 99 and David Morris from DD Productions as Emcees for Opening Ceremonies. The band London Bombs and entertainer Chris Mac, provided the entertainment for the Finish Line Celebration.

In addition, LFANC announced during the event that the Fayetteville Walk will be permanently moving to the spring and is in the process of securing a 2015 date.

Added John-Fuller, “Moving the Fayetteville Walk earlier to an April-May timeframe will line it up with all the other walks in the state, allow us to give it all the time and attention that our spring walks get and enable us to weave it in with our Lupus Awareness Month efforts in May.”

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.