I was diagnosed with lupus earlier this year. As a very physically active, sunshine-loving person, it has been an adjustment and probably will continue to be for a long time. Some of the activities I love have become much more difficult for me over the past year, and learning to accept that, find alternatives, and be patient with myself in the process has been half the battle.

Luckily, I come from a family of women who love to walk. I turned to walking in lieu of some of the more rigorous exercise activities I used to enjoy, and a few months ago I challenged myself to try to get out and walk at least three miles every day.

One of the most frustrating parts of lupus for me has been how unpredictable it is. I can wake up one day and knock my three miles out, no problem. The next day the prospect of walking three miles feels like climbing Everest. It can be tough to find consistency, but on hard days I think about my grandmother walking around her neighborhood every morning well into her 90s, and my own mother who doesn't miss her hourly morning walk. I do my best to live like them and be grateful for every day I get to walk. 

I’m Walking to End Lupus. Join Me?

Imagine a day when doctors can say, “There is a cure for lupus.” Until that day though, there is work to be done. That’s why I’m taking action in the fight against lupus. Join me as I participate in Lupus Foundation of America’s Walk to End Lupus Now™ in North Carolina to raise critical funds for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States.

Will you make a donation to help me reach my personal fundraising goal and support the Foundation's efforts to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus? No donation is too small. What’s more, if your employer offers a Matching Gift Program to employees, you may be able to double your contribution with just a little bit of paperwork. Trust me, it’s worth the effort! Every single dollar counts.

Did you know?

• Lupus is a mysterious and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.
• Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.
• While lupus can strike anyone at any time, 90% of people living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk.
• Only one drug has ever been developed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat the disease.

Together, we can solve the cruel mystery of lupus. Thank you for your generosity!