On October 15, 2023, Lupus patients, family members and other supporters will be gathering at Emancipation Park with Lupus Foundation of Jamaica for their annual Laps for Lupus Awareness lapathon event, as they seek to raise funds to support those affected by lupus.

Lupus Foundation of Jamaica (LFJ) is a 38 year old charity consisting of patients, health care workers and others seeking to improve the outcomes of an estimated 6000 Jamaicans affected by the chronic or lifelong autoimmune disorder. 

Now at its Sixth staging, Laps for Lupus Awareness has become a much-anticipated family-friendly event supported by lupus warriors, their families, friends and the wider community.  Hosted by MC Atkinson, with support from Fitness Guru Kurt Dunn and Gamesmaster Dalton “Potcova” Spence, the event will feature free workout, games and live entertainment, as well as prizes, health demonstrations, and refeshments by sponsors.

A special treat is also in store for supporters who will enjoy live music courtesy of talented supporters in the Medical Community. Dr Mike mills, Gastroenterologist who plays the bass guitar, has been a veteran supporter of the Event.  This year he is joined by colleague Dr Gayan Smith, known in musical circles as Auriya, performing her hit single Pendulum and other songs. “It is a great pleasure and an honour to have been included in this year's staging of the Laps for Lupus Fund raiser. I have the privilege of helping my Lupus patients with traditional medicine and now the  added pleasure as a recording artist to offer them more therapy with my music.”  The two will be supported by Hi Point Band and Bongo Herman also in support of the cause.

The event is one of a series of activities being staged by the organisation in observation of Lupus Awareness Month under the theme Lup-US: You, Me, US -  Stronger Together.  Corporate entities and the public are invited to support the effort by donating online or through a member or supporter and to also attend the event in a show of solidarity with the “Lupus Warriors”.

The campaign has also been enjoying the support of Miss Jamaica Universe Dr Jordan Levy, also a medical doctor, who was present at the Launch of the Campaign in Oct October 4 at the Foundation’s Learning & Health Centre at 7 Barbados Avenue and shared about her involvement in the Campaign. “As a black Jamaican woman in the medical field, this is important to raise awareness, to bring support for people who have debilitating issues - Lupus being one of them. I had a Kindergarten teacher, she passed away from lupus and that was my first welcome into the disease. So it's very tough, the situations that we're put in when we are faced with a health issue that can cause us to lose our lives. So I want everybody to know that support is the number one thing we need to push for. Having a community where we all feel safe or we all feel heard, that's very important. So I am very appreciative, because there is a community, there is a way for people to feel seen and feel heard and that's the only way we can move forward: any type of community when we listen to one another and provide support for one another, So that's very important to me”

She encouraged the members of the public to also get in involved with the Laps event other Lupus Awareness Month activities such Purple Fridays (wear a something purple on each Friday in October), to set up a poster display at their workplace or school and support the Foundation’s Social Media campaign.  The final key event will their Annual Lupus Symposium on Oct 22 which is free to the public and will be held both virtually and in person at UWI regional Headquarters.

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Lupus Foundation of Jamaica is a member-based, volunteer-run charity in operation since 1984 dedicated to improving the lives and outcomes of persons with lupus through information, support, advocacy and research. To Learn more about the work the LFJ is doing, visit website and social media pages:

website: www.lupusfoundationofjamaica.org  Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn