Dear Friend, This month, we share with you a lupus love story. Jim & Cheryl Vail have been long-time friends to the LSI and this year they are serving as the Western Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassadors. Their story proves that the lupus community is larger than those living with the disease. The lupus community is comprised of families and networks of individuals caring for and supporting the individual living with the disease. We are so proud to be a part of Jim and Cheryl’s lupus network as well as so many others. The Illinois Lupus Walks are just one of the opportunities to build your support network. So many of our friends have met us through our Walks and have then gone on to benefit from support groups, educational events, individual peer support, financial assistance and the community navigator program. Many of our friends have taken their own struggles and life experiences and volunteered to help others struggling with the challenges of lupus. Whether you have a large or small lupus network, the LSI stands with you. We are here to serve as the cornerstone of your own lupus network. We provide information to families learning about lupus, spouses struggling with the new reality lupus presents in their lives and adult children who can’t comprehend what their parent with lupus is up against. All of our mission-related activities include opportunities for people to network. Contact us to find out more or to take advantage of any of our services. As long as the LSI is here – you are not alone. We hope to see you at the Western Suburbs Lupus Walk on August 11th – we’ll be there cheering on Jim & Cheryl and hundreds of others in the lupus community. Together we make a difference. Mary Dollear | 
