We promised BIG THINGS this Lupus Awareness Month - what's bigger than a new website!

Check out our awesome new site - still at www.lupusil.org - and let us know what you think!

Together We Are Making a Difference!

We recently received this email of how together we are making a difference!  Share your stories with us at info@lupusil.org.  Thanks to Courtney Wulf for sharing her story!

Hi Mary,
I wanted to share a fun story: 
I’ve been sharing most of the social media Posts on Lupus Facts and last night, I had a friend who has a friend reach out to me who was recently diagnosed with Lupus. 
Like a lot of newly diagnosed patients, she is overwhelmed, scared, and doesn’t know how to process the diagnosis. 
This all transpired because I’ve been sharing your daily Lupus Facts. 
 
I shared today’s post about Lupus Flares and I posted several photos of me over the years in the hospital with the caption “This is what a #Lupusflare looks like. 
Feel free to check my profile out, I’m just @courtneywulf on Instagram.
 
I’m not sure who does the social media for the LSI, but there is a sticker in Instagram you can select and if you type in Lupus, it will link to the non profit organization. The LSI isn't one of them and truthfully, I did not choose it because I wanted donations to come to the LSI. 
Just an FYI if somehow you can figure out a way to get the LSI to be added to the donation selection.
 
Hope all is well, 
Courtney 

Lupus Awareness Month

Lupus Awareness Month is the time of year when the lupus community takes time to educate their families, workplaces and neighborhoods about lupus.  Education can be as modest as sending an email to your friends and family about lupus to organizing a Lupus Awareness Day at your office.  We encourage you to get creative as you raise awareness about this often misunderstood disease.

Please let us know what you're up to - you may inspire others in the lupus community to take action!  Email mary@lupusil.org or call Mary at 312-648-6053. 

Increase Lupus Awareness - We Can Help!

Pass a Lupus Awareness Month Proclamation in your community government! 

Change your Facebook status to "LUPUS AWARENESS!"

Hang a Lupus Awareness poster in your front window or at your workstation! 

Hand out Lupus Awareness Month stickers to everyone you see!

Wear your purple wristband every day in May! Share a lupus fact a day on Facebook! 

Host a "Jeans Day" at work benefiting the LSI and hand out a lupus bookmark to everyone who participates. 

Post Lupus Awareness Month ad in the your building's elevator (contact LSI for artwork - here's an example)

Take an "I fight for lupus because" selfie! 
​
Walk with us at an Illinois Lupus Walk!

Upcoming Events!

Thank You!

Increasing awareness about lupus comes in many forms.  Thanks to everyone who creates awareness in their own community!

Kay Mimms 
Kay Mimms, author of Fighting Lupus Battles: Hope for a Cure, has blitzed her community with lupus information!  Some of the activities Kay, with assistance from Dr. Patricia Canessa,  has coordinated include a posting at Northwestern's University Intercampus Network, reaching 2,000 people, distributed lupus materials at New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, Beardstown African Traditional Baptist Church and Trinity United Church of Christ - to name just a few.  Thank you Kay and Patricia for all of your hard work!

Tara & Josh Joseph
Where: Prairie House Tavern
What: Fundraiser benefiting LSI
Around 50 people learned about lupus and raised funds for LSI.  25% of the proceeds from dinner will be donated to LSI!

Bettie Carter
What: Buildings Go Purple on World Lupus Day
          Radio Interview
          Windy City Live

On May 10th, Bettie coordinated several buildings in downtown Chicago lighting up purple!  see the pics here!

On May 5th Bettie was on 106.3FM  Radio show between 2 and 3pm with AC Green talking about Lupus and the upcoming events. His radio show is heard mostly in all the states.
 
One May 7th, Bettie and 34 people from the lupus community were in the audience for Windy City Live and Lupus Awareness Month was mentioned!

Middle School Presentation

On May 3rd LSI joined Dr. Meenakshi Jolly for a presentation to middle school children in Plainfield! Thanks to Middle School student, Nia, for making this happen!

Mike Rakoczy's 6th Grade Lupus Education Event

On May 10th, LSI spoke at Spencer Crossing Elementary School in New Lenox, IL.  About 150 students heard about lupus and asked some terrific questions about the disease.  Mike is a teacher and his commitment to lupus runs deep - his mother Gayla passed away from the disease.  Every year, Mike and his sister Jenny, also a teacher, captain a team at an Illinois Lupus Walk.  This year, they are the Walk Ambassadors for the Southern Suburbs Lupus Walk on June 1st.  As team captains, Mike and Jenny host a fundraiser at Chicago Pizza Dough - this year's event is on May 30th (see above for details).  Thanks Mike and Jenny!

Meaghan Fox & her Lupus Awareness Table, Raffle, Giveaways, and Celebration!
Walgreen's
11981 West 143rd Street
Orland Park ILLINOIS 60462
(At the corner of 143rd Street & Will-Cook Road)

LSI Associate Board presents A Night with Jackie Fabulous!
Zanies Comedy Club
1548 N Wells Street
Chicago, IL, 60610

2019 Northern Suburbs Lupus Walk

Thanks to everyone who came out for the 12th Annual Northern Suburbs Lupus Walk!  Check out the photos here!

Share Your Pictures!

Post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #LAM2019LSI or email mary@lupusil.org!