Skip to content

Steps that conquer

This month residents in communities across Canada will participate in Lupus Canada’s most important public awareness and fundraising event, Walk for Lupus. Lupus Canada, in partnership with its provincial member organizations, is holding their tenth annual Walk for Lupus campaign in conjunction with World Lupus Day to help increase awareness and funds for lupus. Events will be held worldwide in an effort to bring more awareness to this under-funded and under-recognized disease.

This month residents in communities across Canada will participate in Lupus Canada’s most important public awareness and fundraising event, Walk for Lupus. Lupus Canada, in partnership with its provincial member organizations, is holding their tenth annual Walk for Lupus campaign in conjunction with World Lupus Day to help increase awareness and funds for lupus. Events will be held worldwide in an effort to bring more awareness to this under-funded and under-recognized disease.

Lupus affects tens of thousands of Canadian men, women and children. It can attack any tissue or organ in the body. Lupus patients often suffer from the disease in very different ways, hence the moniker “The Disease with 1000 Faces.” Common symptoms of lupus include joint pain, skin rashes, sun sensitivity, extreme fatigue, fever, chest pain and seizures. Lupus can strike any tissue or organ in the body, including skin, muscles, joints, blood and blood vessels, lungs, heart, kidneys and the brain. Lupus symptoms vary drastically from person to person and can mimic other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. If left untreated, lupus can be fatal. Increased awareness and early diagnosis is vital to improving the overall quality of life.

The goal is to increase awareness, create a support network for those living with lupus, and raise funds for lupus research.

This will be the second Walk for Lupus held in Nelson, and organizers hope it will be just as successful as last year.

There is no cost or minimum donation required in order to participate. To get involved with fundraising, register and print donation forms at walkforlupus.ca, contact Nadine at 250-551-2797, or show up on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Nelson Lakeside Park Rotary shelter.

Afterward, there will be a potluck dinner and a prize draw for participants.