Beat Lupus

  

July 10, 2010:  Snoop Dogg speaks about his daughter, Cori, who was diagnosed with lupus at age six.  She is now doing well at age 13:  http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/2010/07/snoop-dogg-says-daughter-winning-lupus-fight.html. 
 

July 3, 2010:  There is a wonderful advocacy group called the LUISA project in the Philippines.   Lupus affects women of color more often than it affects caucasian women.  This organization is extremely inspiring and relies on scientific symposiums for updates on lupus research and treatment.  Manila is fortunate to boast such an active and progressive group of people.  For the latest lupus research news and inspiration, see:  http://www.luisaproject.org.    

July 1, 2010:    Terri Seymour, popular TV host, has lupus:  http://www.fameblab.com/article/terri-seymour-admits-she-has-lupus-disease.  It is always nice to see celebrities helping raise the profile of this illness by coming forward.  Note:  the most powerful advocacy we can do as patients is use our voice.  Consider writing in to this website with your stories to:  rmizuno@comcast.net, and joining in the fight on Capitol Hill with the Lupus Research Institute.  These forums, wherein lupus patients advocate for funds for increasing doctor education about lupus, tend to have an outstanding effect.  Over 1.5 million dollars has been raised through these efforts within a year and a half. 

  

May 7, 2010:  Julian Lennon sings for lupus Friday May 7 2010 – http://lupus.webmd.com/features/julian-lennon-sings-a-new-song-for-lupus?src=RSS_PUBLIC.  Julian had been somewhat out of the limelight for quite some time until he became inspired by the memory of an old friend and a famous song.  In 2009, Lennon met American singer/songwriter James Scott Cook through a mutual friend and offered to contribute background vocals on a song Cook was writing.  But when he heard the tune, a tribute to Cook’s grandmother, Lucy, who had lupus, he felt compelled to do more.  Last December, the upbeat pop single “Lucy” was released as an extended play CD.  Lennon earmarked a portion of sales for lupus research, shared by the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) and the St. Thomas’ Lupus Trust in Great Britain.  This month Julian will sing “Lucy” at LFA’s Butterfly Gala National Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.  Come back here:  www.beatlupus.com/news-on-lupus for all updates and daily news flashes. 

 

May 6, 2010:  Huge news.  Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) level may predict disease activity in adult patients with lupus nephritis.  See: http://www.nature.com/nrneph/journal/v6/n5/full/nrneph.2010.49.html.  This will go a long way in creating opportunity for life-saving treatment, as early diagnosis in lupus nephritis is key (and saved Regan’s life). 

  

May 5, 2010:  Regan is proud to be represented and supported by her parents and a ton of excited British Columbia residents for Lupus Canada.  May is Lupus Awareness month.  Let’s bind together and raise some research!  See:  http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/news/93035594.html.

  

May 4, 2010:  The Lupus Foundation of Colorado’s annual Vines of Hope fundraiser was a resounding success.  I got to speak and I really enjoyed that.  It was an emotional, yet extremely positive and uplifting evening.  The whole event resulted in great friendships, wonderful experiences, and a lot of fundraising for research!  The research comprises local and national programs including the Lupus Research Institute, the United States’ largest private funder of novel lupus research.  70% of their funded scientists go on to receive millions in grant money from the National Institutes of Health.  Also, the LFC funds local Denver doctors who work on biomarkers to identify lupus in its early stages.  As you know, early diagnosis is the key to success.  Way to go, LFC!  I am happy to have been a part of this organization and event.  Be sure to visit www.beatlupus.com/news-on-lupus for all updates and daily news flashes. 

 

May 3, 2010: The S.L.E. Lupus Foundation—in its 40th year promoting lupus awareness, education, advocacy, and research—is launching National Lupus Awareness Month 2010 with a 115-sq-ft display window at 10 Rockefeller Plaza to educate young women about the disease. The window, viewed by thousands of visitors each day in the heart of New York City, was generously donated by EHE International for the month of May.  For the full article see:  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb3949314.htm.

 

April 19, 2010:  A conference dedicated to autoimmune issues, will be held on Sunday, May 2, in Scranton.  These conferences are the keys to seeding novel research.  Typically, novel research funded by organizations such as the Lupus Research Institute, goes on to obtain millions in funding from the National Institutes of Health.  This will be a productive meeting working towards a cure for lupus.  See:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/if-you-go-conference-will-seek-to-unlock-mysteries-of-autoimmune-diseases-1.734810.  Secondly:  there is much research touting the benefits of fish oil for people with arthritis.  I take it myself and have found it to ease pain and increase joint comfort, allowing me freedom of movement and the ability to exercise.  See:  http://www.livestrong.com/article/105190-fish-oil-lupus/.  For all updates and daily news items, go to www.beatlupus.com/news-on-lupus. 

  

April 18, 2010:  The results are in:  Myrtle Beach’s lupus walk held Saturday, April 17, was a resounding success.  Over 200 people showed up to support lupus research.  For more information on this inspiring group, see:  http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=12329413.