Lupus Walk Debuts April 25

TRUMBULL — The Lupus Foundation of America, Connecticut Chapter, Inc, will hold its inaugural Walkathon on April 25, at the Westfield Trumbull Mall. Registration begins at 8 am, with the Walkathon commencing at 9 am.

There is no registration fee. Prizes, music, and surprise guests will be there.

The Lupus Foundation of America, Connecticut Chapter, Inc, was established in 1973 as a nonprofit agency. The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by lupus.

Lupus is an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ in the body. Its health effects include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

Ninety percent of the people with lupus are women, and it is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians. In addition, there has not been a new treatment for lupus in more than 50 years.

This may change this year with the introduction of Benlysta, a new medication from Glaxo Smith Kline and Human Genome Sciences. It is the hope that this biological medication will pass FDA approval the end of 2010/beginning of 2011.

The chapter will also hold three additional walks: May 23 in Blue Back Square, West Hartford; June 10 at Waterford Speed Bowl; and September 26 at Hamden Middle School.

For more information, or to learn how to help, contact Adrian Miller at the Lupus Foundation of America, CT Chapter, Inc at 800-699-6967 or visit lupusct.org.