That's A Wrap! Thank You For Another Amazing Lupus Awareness Month!

Every June, we reflect back on the past month and are always amazed at the success of Lupus Awareness Month. It’s no different this year. Once again, we saw incredible participation during the month of May and that’s all thanks to people like you, along with our Chapters and partners.

Because of you, whether you shared or retweeted facts about lupus, held educational events in your community, joined a Walk to End Lupus Now™, or simply wore purple and told people why, more people than ever learned about lupus during the month of May than ever before.

Thanks to all of you, we:

• Reached more than 2 million people weekly with lupus facts, graphics and other educational content
• Educated more than 1,000,000 people about the signs and symptoms of lupus through our popular body infographic (right) on Facebook alone. See the full-sized version.
• Had the highest monthly traffic on our website (lupus.org) in the history of the organization
• Gathered more than 30,000 signatures on the petition to Congress asking them to support more lupus research

But the successes did not stop there. The response to Put On Purple Day, which was held nationally for the first time last year, was overwhelming! More than 500 people sent in photos of themselves, friends, family and even pets all dressed in purple. Multiple local and national TV anchors Put On Purple for lupus awareness, including Michael Strahan from Live with Kelly and Michael!

Michael Strahan from Live with Kelly and Michael wore our purple wristband and educated the audience about lupus

In Mobile, Alabama, the Fox 10 morning show Studio 10 talent wore purple in support of ‘Put on Purple Day’! Purple nails, purple makeup, purple clothes, purple everything!

This year, more buildings and landmarks were lit purple for Put On Purple or World Lupus Day than ever before, including for the first time ever, the famous Seattle Great Wheel (lit by our Pacific Northwest Chapter) and Los Angeles International Airport. And a big thank you goes out to our friends at Saks Fifth Avenue, who Put On Purple on 5th avenue for the second year in a row. Don’t they look fantastic?

Some of the Saks Fifth Avenue Staff POP
for lupus awareness!

Congratulations to the Pacific Northwest Chapter
for lighting the Great Wheel purple!

Because of an idea from lupus activist Suzette B.,
we lit LAX pylons purple for World Lupus Day!

Though Lupus Awareness Month may be over, our efforts continue year-round with your help. Thank you all again for your support and stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, this blog, or email for the latest in lupus research, treatments, and more. We can’t wait to see what we can achieve together next year!

Thank You for an Amazing Lupus Awareness Month!

Lupus Awareness Month may be over but we continue to spread awareness year-round. We couldn't have done it alone and we need to recognize all of our supporters and friends who have made this such a success.

A big thank you goes out to our amazing friends who helped spread the word and educated their followers and fans about lupus, including Shannon Boxx, Nick Cannon, Kaleena Harper, Steve Harvey, Julian Lennon, Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon, Eduardo Xol, and many, many more.

Saks Fifth Avenue, a Lupus Awareness Month supporter, was kind enough to display our awareness posters in their NYC store window! Don't they look great on 5th Avenue? Thank you to all of our supporters for helping us spread awareness and spread the purple this month!

LFA posters in the window of Saks Fifth Avenue

The Terminal Tower in Cleveland, OH was lit purple for Lupus Awareness!

And of course, a big thank you to every single one of you - everyone who sent in a photo for Put On Purple Day, shared our Facts of the Day on your Facebook and Twitters, participated in one of our Walks, or raised awareness in your own community in your own way. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!

The residents of Tift County, GA Put On Purple

Jenny’s Notebook: Many Paths to Awareness

Another successful Lupus Awareness Month has come to a close. And what a month it has been!

First was our National Butterfly Gala on May 8, here in the Nation’s Capital. With friends old and new we gathered to recognize the tireless efforts of special individuals in supporting the Foundation’s mission, including the co-chairs of the newly created Congressional Lupus Caucus. See photos of the honorees (and the beautiful purple-lit venue) here.

Then, on May 10, World Lupus Day, came a first for our organization: the LFA President and CEO, joined by supporters and advocates, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange to draw attention to the massive economic burden for people who live lupus. I think it would have been really cool to be there for that - but you can watch the video now!

And Put On Purple Day on May 18? What fun! The LFA office staff, along with volunteers and staff from the LFA, DC/Maryland/Virginia Chapter, posed in the lunchroom to show off our purple.

For more photos from Put On Purple Day, please visit our Web site.

This month, our Web site had record-breaking numbers of hits, plus our national network of awesome local chapters put on tons of special activities to help raise awareness. Without them and their thousands of dedicated volunteers, where would we be?

For my part, I was able to display Lupus Now® magazines and lupus fact sheets at the community center where I volunteer once a week. I talked to lots of people there about our work here at the LFA (and of course bragged about the magazine). What I didn’t expect, though, was how empowering it would feel.

All in all, while everyone involved with the LFA may be a little bit worn out, it’s invigorating to learn about all the activities that took place around the country. And not just here in the U.S.—lupus awareness activities took place throughout the world; check it out at www.worldlupusday.org.

If you helped spread awareness during the month of May, we want to say, “Thank you!” Every person who learned about lupus through your efforts makes all of us stronger.

I remain,
Your tired but appreciative correspondent,
Jenny

Band Together for Lupus Awareness This May

New research has shown that most Americans, 59 percent, know little or nothing about lupus and its devastating impact. This May for Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is urging individuals nationwide to Band Together for Lupus Awareness® to improve understanding of lupus, an unpredictable and sometimes fatal disease that affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans.

This year, the LFA is asking the public to Put On Purple for lupus awareness by wearing purple and telling people why they are showing their support for all people affected by this disease. Put On Purple Day will take place on Friday, May 18, 2012, and is one of many programs taking place during May.

The LFA’s Lupus Awareness Month activities, which include social media, online, and grassroots components, will also empower individuals, organizations, and companies by providing a number of tools and resources so they can educate their communities about lupus. Tools range from fliers, to Web and banner ads, and daily facts about lupus. Check out our Awareness Kit at www.lupus.org/awarenesskit.

There are many ways the public can Band Together for Lupus Awareness such as:

• Listen to and share new podcasts with lupus experts.
• Share their lupus story on Lupus Voices Across America at www.lupusvoices.org.
• Include an article about lupus in their company newsletter or on their Web site.
• Post fliers in their community or around their office.
• Post a Web banner on their personal or company Web site linking to the LFA/Lupus Awareness Month activities.
• Distribute purple wristbands to friends (available for sale at www.shoplupus.org).
• Participate in Put On Purple Day on Friday, May 18 -- encourage friends to wear purple proudly on this day and tell people why.
• Share lupus facts with their networks throughout the month of May via their social media pages.

Are you blogging about Lupus Awareness Month? Leave a comment with a link to your blog post below! 

For more information on how to get involved and raise awareness this May, visit the LFA’s Web site, www.lupus.org or leave a comment!

Last Day of Lupus Awareness Month - Let's continue the momentum!

Lupus Awareness Month 2011 has been absolutely incredible and THANK YOU for supporting the LFA and Banding Together for Lupus. Even though May is over, you can still continue the momentum and help raise awareness throughout the year.

Listed below are a few simple ways you can help spread the word:

• Post lupus awareness fliers in your community or office.
• Repost LFA’s daily lupus fact shared throughout May on your own online and social networking sites (eg. Web site, blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Share with others an important fact about lupus in your own words on the LFA’s new Web site, Lupus Voices Across America.
• Send a Lupus Awareness Month e-card to your family and friends.
• Wear a purple LFA Band Together for Lupus™ wristband or t-shirt.
• Make a donation to support the LFA’s research, education, and awareness programs.

Today is World Lupus Day!

May 10th is World Lupus Day and we are raising our voice and spreading the word about lupus. Join us and check out the links below to join the conversation.

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) urges you to Band Together for Lupus™ this May during Lupus Awareness Month to educate others and raise awareness of lupus. We are asking that everyone pledge to do at least one thing to raise awareness this month.  A few simple and easy ways you can raise awareness of lupus include: wearing a LFA purple Band Together for Lupus™ wristband or t-shirt; Reposting LFA’s lupus facts on Facebook or Twitter to share with friends; families, or co-workers; participating in a local Walk for Lupus Now® event; and distributing lupus awareness fliers in your community. The LFA has developed an Awareness Toolkit with a number of resources to help get you started including fliers, banner ads, public service announcements, wristbands, and t-shirts. To learn more, and see what activities are occurring across the United States, please visit www.lupus.org/awareness.

In addition, visit us on Twitter and Facebook to share with us your efforts for World Lupus Day and Lupus Awareness Month. When tweeting, use #worldlupusday and #lupusawarenessmonth. 

Julian Lennon Leads World Lupus Day Observance on May 10

(Washington, DC) – Musician and philanthropist Julian Lennon, newly appointed Global Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), is encouraging people around the world to join with him to observe World Lupus Day on May 10. 

As part of the observance, Mr. Lennon is urging everyone to sign a pledge to increase awareness of lupus, a devastating and life-altering autoimmune disease that affects at least five million individuals worldwide.  Supporters can make their pledge and download resources to help raise understanding of lupus through the World Lupus Day Web site, worldlupusday.org.

Mr. Lennon became involved with the LFA after a childhood friend who developed lupus succumbed to the disease in 2009.  Since that time, he has helped raise funds for research and spoken out to increase awareness of lupus.
“We can all do our part and make people more aware of lupus, which affects a staggering number of people,” said Lennon.  “The fact that lupus impacts so many people in so many ways is devastating.  I urge everyone to learn more about this chronic disease and band together to spread the word to others during World Lupus Day and beyond.” 

This is the eighth annual observance of World Lupus Day.  Since 2004, lupus organizations around the globe have conducted activities on May 10 to raise awareness and educate the public about the symptoms and health effects of lupus, which occurs when the immune system is out of balance, causing inflammation and tissue damage to any organ system in the body.  The health effects of lupus include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

“There is a need for heightened public awareness, improved health care services, and expanded research to improve the lives of all people affected by lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. “We are proud to partner with Julian Lennon and lupus groups around the world to bring greater attention to this significant international health issue.”

In addition to the LFA, other international lupus organizations observing World Lupus Day on May 10 include: Agrupación Lupus Chile, Arthritis Victoria (Australia), Lupus Association of Argentina, Associação Doentes com Lupus (Portugal), British Columbia Lupus Society (Canada), Belgian CIB-League, Catalan Lupus Foundation (Spain), Care for Lupus-SDF (Indonesia), Federación Española de Lupus (Spain), Inspired Advocacy (LUISA) Project thru Rheumatology Educational Trust Foundation Inc. (Philippines), Lupus Alert (Mauritius), Lupus Association of New South Wales, Inc. (Australia), Lupus Australia Queensland Inc., Lupus Canada, Lupus Denmark, Lupus Europe, Lupus Foundation of Ontario (Canada), Lupus France, Lupus-Italy, Lupus Saskatchewan Society, (Canada), Lupus Trust of New Zealand, Lupus UK (United Kingdom), Magyar Lupus Egyesulet (Hungary), Malaysian SLE Association, Nationale Vereniging LE Patienten (The Netherlands), The Swedish Rheumatism Association, Saint Thomas' Lupus Trust (United Kingdom), and Schweizerische Lupus Erythematodses Vereinigung (Switzerland).

Photo courtesy: Paul Harmer

Only Four Days Remain To Make Your Voice Heard and Spread Awareness of Lupus

As summer approaches, Lupus Awareness Month comes to a close. You all have been incredible in spreading our awareness message this May! Not only did the Band Together for Lupus petition surpass our goals twice, we saw signatures from 70 countries and all 50 states from the United States. In addition, supporters such as yourself raised awareness through walks, wearing our wrist bands, and posting our facts on facebook and twitter. The LFA thanks you for all of your efforts.

Let us know what you have been doing during Lupus Awareness Month and read about others’ efforts.

Why not continue the momentum during these last few days of May?

Send out 10 e-cards to spread the message

Sign and encourage others to sign our Band Together for Lupus Petition.

Wear a purple wristband

Sign up for an Walk for Lupus Now event

Share the Daily Lupus Fact with Friends and Family – Visit our Daily Fact Archive

Make a donation to fund research, advocacy, and education efforts

You Did It!

You did it! In just 5 days 5,000 people pledged their commitment to raise awareness of lupus! Let’s continue the momentum. Help us reach 10,000 signatures in 2 weeks!

The response has been incredible! People from around the world are taking the pledge - including Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Afghanistan, UK, Peru, Argentina, Australia, Portugal, etc. – to do at least one thing this month to raise awareness of lupus.

If you haven’t already signed the petition, join the band and spread the word.

Share what you are doing to raise awareness of lupus. Have your awareness efforts posted to LFA’s Lupus Awareness Month – Awareness Actions Page.

Are You in the Band? Join us for Lupus Awareness Month

It’s estimated that 80 percent of the public know little or nothing about lupus. A shocking statistic when you consider the impact lupus has on the lives of 1.5 million Americans and more than five million people worldwide. We hope you’ll join us and Band Together for Lupus to raise awareness and educate others about lupus this May during Lupus Awareness Month.

More education and awareness of lupus can lead to earlier diagnosis, more resources to help those affected by lupus, and more dollars to fund lupus research. But we can’t do it alone; that’s why we need to work together. Just think of the impact we could make if everyone with a connection to lupus informed 10 people about the disease! Are you in the band?

Learn ways in which you can raise lupus awareness.

Every 30 minutes ...

Every 30 minutes ... someone is diagnosed with lupus.

And most of them will have suffered 4 or more years before receiving the diagnosis.

Awareness of lupus and its symptoms can help people seek appropriate medical evaluation, and ask the question Could I Have Lupus?, so they can receive a timely diagnosis.

You can help minimize suffering by joining the effort to raise awareness and understanding of this devastating disease.

Earlier this month, the LFA encouraged everyone to raise awareness of lupus in their own way. Have you done your part?

There is still time to participate -- Lupus Awareness Month is not over!

Today we challenge you to send awareness eCards to those who know little or nothing about lupus. Let’s see how many eCards we can send by midnight this Friday.

Raising Awareness. Your Way.

Tell us how you're helping to raise awareness about lupus. Remember ... May isn't over yet!

How Will You Observe Lupus Awareness Month and World Lupus Day?

It is estimated that more than five million people worldwide have a form of lupus. This year, we are asking the lupus community to join us in helping to bring additional attention to this disease ... attention that lupus deserves and requires. Just think of the impact we could make if everyone with a connection to lupus informed 10 people about the disease!

Learn how you can raise awareness during Lupus Awareness Month, and on World Lupus Day.

Learn what other countries are doing to observe World Lupus Day, which is Sunday, May 10.

May is Lupus Awareness Month. Spread the Word about Lupus ... Your Way.

May is Lupus Awareness Month, one of several awareness campaigns promoted by the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) to increase the visibility of lupus. This year, we are asking the lupus community to join us in helping to bring additional attention to this disease ... attention that lupus deserves and requires. Just think of the impact we could make if everyone with a connection to lupus informed 10 people about the disease!

With that in mind, LFA encourages you -- and your family and friends -- to help spread the word about lupus. Your way.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Send an ecard
• Post a flier
• Wear a wristband
• Write a letter to your local news editor

To learn more detail about how to implement these suggestions, and many others, visit http://www.lupus.org/lupusmonth.

May is National Lupus Awareness Month

Every day, 1.5 million Americans (enough people to fill thirty baseball stadiums) struggle with the often disabling and life-altering impact of lupus. Lupus is the result of an unbalanced immune system that can become destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body. Lupus is unpredictable and potentially fatal, yet no satisfactory treatment or cure exists.

Why is awareness of lupus important? To save lives! Consider these facts:

• Lupus can attack the body for years before the disease is diagnosed. Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and often are dismissed as nothing serious.
  
• More than half of the people with lupus suffer four or more years and visit three or more doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis.
  
• Awareness of lupus is lowest among women 18-24 –- the age group most likely to develop the disease.
  
• Late diagnosis and delayed treatment contribute to poor outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality.
  
• Lupus is a serious disease that can damage vital organs, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. The disease can cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages, and organ failure leading to significant disability or death.

But there is hope.

Early diagnosis and proper medical care greatly improve the quality of life for people with lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) seeks to educate the public about early warning signs of lupus and all aspects of living and coping with the disease.

Could it be lupus?

The LFA has created a simple self-screening tool to help individuals determine whether they should consult with their doctor about lupus. Take the test now.