Walks to support Lupus Society of Illinois
Hundreds of lupus survivors, friends, families and local supporters will participate in two upcoming suburban walks for the Lupus Society of Illinois.
The first event will step off on Sunday, May 6, at the Half Day Forest Preserve, 24255 Route 21 in Vernon Hills, as the Lupus Society of Illinois hosts its 11th annual Northern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk.
"Lupus is an often misunderstood disease, so gathering hundreds of people in support of lupus awareness and education is very moving," said Mary Dollear, president of the Lupus Society of Illinois.
The Naperville Riverwalk's Grand Pavilion will host the 13th annual Western Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk on Saturday, Aug. 11.
Preregistration for the walks is currently open, and the Lupus Society of Illinois is still accepting volunteers to help coordinate the events.
Visit www.lupuswalkil.org to register or for more information. Cost for adults is $25 online and $30 day-of-event; cost for kids 12 and under is $10.
Registration and activities begin at 9 a.m. the day of each walk, with the walk itself commencing at 10 a.m. Attendees choose to walk one or three-mile routes at the site.
The walks primarily serve as a fundraiser, so participants are encouraged to take part in raising money prior to the big day.
Walkers can register individually or in teams. Those who successfully raise $100 or more will be eligible for a number of signature LSI prizes. All registered participants receive an official Illinois Lupus Walk 2018 T-shirt and a personal fundraising page via the LSI website.
The events will include a variety of fun activities including music, food and games. There will be crafts and face painting for kids of all ages, a photo booth, stalls offering Lupus Society of Illinois merchandise for sale and tents providing more information about lupus, the Lupus Society of Illinois and their sponsors.
An estimated 65,000 people in Illinois live with lupus in Illinois. The funds from the walk enable he Lupus Society of Illinois to advocate for those suffering from the chronic autoimmune disease and provide free services. Part of the proceeds are put toward medical research in finding the causes of lupus and discovering a cure.
Formed in 1973, the Lupus Society of Illinois is the Midwest's leading nonprofit health organization dedicated to finding the causes and cure for lupus. With the help of informed volunteers, medical experts and committed supporters, the Lupus Society of Illinois promotes lupus awareness and complements the work of health care professionals by providing personalized resources for the lupus community while supporting research.