I've been affected by lupus my whole life. My mother was diagnosed with the disease when I was a child and ultimately passed away when I was nine years old. My goal is to raise money to help beat the disease so other children never had to grow up without a parent, so others never have to lose a loved one to this disease. I am involved to raise awareness about this disease that affects so many people of color for far too long without a diagnosis. I do this for my friends and family in the fight against lupus. Help me help them.

I have been affiliated with the Lupus Foundation of America's Chicago walk since 2015. Each year you have supported me and I cannot thank you enough. This is my cause of choice and I only do the "shakedown" once a year. All donations help, they bring us closer to a cure as well as living a quality life while managing this cruel disease.

Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among women of color—African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders—than among Caucasian women. Recent research indicates that lupus affects 1 in 537 young African American women. I wasn't supposed to be here, the doctor's told my parents that it would be too risky to have another child, and I stand here 44 years later supporting my mother's memory through fundraising and community service.

Did you know?

• Lupus is a mysterious and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.
• Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.
• While lupus can strike anyone at any time, 90% of people living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk.
• Only one drug has ever been developed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat the disease.

Together, we can solve the cruel mystery of lupus. Thank you for your generosity!