Governor Dayton Proclaims May Is Lupus Awareness Month in Minnesota
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BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - May 6, 2014 - Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed May as Lupus Awareness Month in Minnesota. Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy cells, currently affects more than 1.5 million Americans, including 16,000 new patients every year. It is characterized by painful and swollen joints, fever, rashes, extreme fatigue, loss of hair, and damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs. Lupus can vary in intensity from mild to life threatening. In conjunction with Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota (LFM) is hosting a series of events designed to educate the public, raise funds for medical research, and support those living with the disease. Events include:
- Lupus in Pregnancy: A one-hour webinar by Dr. Parastoo Fazeli, Director of the Lupus Clinic at the University of Minnesota, on May 6 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., addressing the risks involved with pregnancy for women with lupus.
- Lupus Food and Wine Classic: An annual fundraiser for lupus research and education on May 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Great Room at the Mall of America in Bloomington.
- Using Posture to Enhance Daily Life: A ninety-minute training on May 12 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. to help individuals with lupus learn how to minimize pain and tension through improved posture and body alignment.
- Community Educational Support Group Facilitator Training: A two-hour session on May 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to train individuals to become facilitators for lupus support groups around Minnesota.
- Lunchtime Yoga Class: A one-hour class on the fundamentals of yoga on May 21 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., focusing on breathing and relaxation techniques.
Other recent activities connected to Lupus Awareness Month have included Yoga Sol for Lupus, a combination yoga class and fundraiser for LFM held at the Yoga Sol studios in NE Minneapolis on May 2; Lupus 'Spiel USA, a pro-am curling tournament and fundraiser hosted by the Four Seasons Curling Club on May 2 to May 4; and Cory Cove's 24-Hour On-Air Marathon for LFM on KFAN Radio (100.3 FM) on May 3 and May 4, which helped to increase public awareness of lupus and raised more than $51,000 for LFM. For more information about these and other events, visit the LFM website at www.LupusMN.org. LFM is a nonprofit organization that funds lupus research, promotes community awareness, and provides education, support, and services to those affected by lupus.
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