Stroke Risk Highest Among Young Lupus Patients; Emmy Winning Journalist to Emcee LFNC Gala

January 4, 2016

Start the New Year with a Gift to Lupus

As you know, the Lupus Foundation of Northern California is fueled by your energy, inspired by your stories, and funded by your donations.

Make the Lupus Buddy Program Catch Fire

The Lupus Buddy Program - the first of its kind in lupus - is not even a month old (we launched it on July 15), and we already have almost 60 people signed up! Now that's something.

The interest in the program launched by the LFNC working with a volunteer coordinator tells us how valuable patients are finding it - not just in northern California but across the country. And although we couldn't be happier to see it take off among patients, one thing is holding us back from much broader outreach, recruitment and expansion: Funding.

You can solve that problem. Give just $25 (more if you can), then share our funding page with all your friends on your social networks. Donate now.

We started with a small seed funding from GSK, but we need to raise $10,000 more to help lupus patients from sea to shining sea. Why? We need time from program coordinators to match the patients, for orientation, for follow-up, for helping each pair of buddies at every stage. Give now, share and make it catch fire.

If you are a patient interested in the program, learn more, and sign up here. A program coordinator will be in touch with you. Any personal and medical information necessary to make the matches are treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.

LFNC is an active partner in

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Editor: Spandan Chakrabarti

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Stroke Risk Higher Among Lupus Patients, Regardless of the Type of Stroke

A broad accumulation of a collection of individual research studies conducted in Stockholm has shown that lupus patients are at a significantly higher risk of stroke, regardless of the type of stroke - at a minimum, lupus patients suffer from strokes twice as much as the general population.

Young patients are at a particularly high risk. Patients under 30 are at risk for strokes at a rate that is more than 20 times higher than the their peers in the general population.

The lupus community has for some time known the higher probability of strokes patients suffer from, but the recent study shows just how stunningly high that risk is.

You can read more about the cohort study here. The findings underscore the need for lupus patients to reduce stress, maintain proper medication and diet regimens, educate themselves about the signs of hightened risk, and discuss their options frequently with their medical providers.

Six-Time Emmy Winner Lloyd LaCuesta to Emcee LFNC's Gala & Purple Ribbon Awards

The Lupus Foundation of Northern California's Anniversary Gala and Purple Ribbon Awards are quickly becoming a celebrated event in the lupus community. We are proud to announce that six-time Emmy winning journalist Lloyd LaCuesta (you may know him from KTVU) has agreed to emcee this year's event. On January 23, at this year's gala, we have an evening packed with excitement for you. See what's in store:

BE WELCOME

Address by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. Emceed by six-time Emmy winner journalist Lloyd LaCuesta.

BE INSPIRED

Personal story of Christine Von Raesfeld.

BE IMPRESSED

Purple Ribbon Awards for outstanding contributions to the lupus community - Daniel J. Wallace, MD, NBC Bay Area, and Roseanna Lavia.

BE A WINNER

Win an impressive gift set at the silent auction or a trip to Hawaii or Tahoe in the live auction.

This year's event will take place on the evening of Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the downtown Marriott Hotel in San Jose, California. Cocktail at 6 pm; dinner at 7 pm. Be a part of something special.

Buy a ticket or a whole table.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Few Tickets Left

One great cause. One beauty of a sedan.

Less than 100 left, out of a total of 600 tickets.

Win a Mercedes CLA-250, or $25,000 in cash.

Tickets: $75 per entry. $200 for three (3) or $300 for five (5)

Call us at (408) 954-8600 for the fastest way to buy your tickets or complete this form and mail or fax it to us. Remember, the more tickets you buy, the better your chances!

When is the giveaway?

As soon as the 600th ticket is sold!