On Sunday, September 8th 2019, the New York Jets hosted Lupus Awareness Day. The team joined forces with the Lupus Research Alliance to raise awareness of the devastating autoimmune disease and garner funds for lupus biomedical research. The Jets took on the Buffalo Bills, and they are attempting to give fans an opportunity to be a part of a noble cause. One way was through a 50/50 raffle, hosted by Florida Tech, that benefits the Lupus Research Alliance. This will be a common theme for 2019. There will also be fundraisers from the Lupus Research Alliance’s Walk with Us to Cure Lupus
Program, and they will be honored on the field for their support in fighting lupus.
Here are the facts: Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90% of people with lupus are women; lupus is most often diagnosed during the childbearing years of 15 to 44. What makes Lupus so deadly? The immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and organs – such as the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints. In other words, Lupus causes our body to fight against itself. It’s a truly deadly disease.
The Jets are being valiant in their pursuit of campaigns and the way they take on this major issue. The hope is to increase Lupus awareness among teams, players, and the entire community. To date, the organization has committed over $200 million to lupus research projects at top universities, medical schools and hospitals throughout the world. Because the Board of Directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations received goes to support lupus research programs. With the organization’s support, pioneering investigations have led to significant discoveries that are leading the way to better diagnostics, improved treatments, and ultimately a cure. The Lupus Research Alliance is at the forefront of driving innovative research that can make a difference for people living with lupus.
We can all make a difference. Building awareness of lupus is essential to improve early diagnosis and treatment of this unpredictable and misunderstood disease. Let’s make sure people with lupus are aware of the support and resources available to help them. There are many ways to spread awareness of lupus and help bring greater attention and resources to the fight to end lupus.We can at least have empathy for those afflicted and the families affected, and then we can begin to bring an end to it someday.
