The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. has had many challenges during the year of 2016. We thank each one of you, including The Sentinel-Record and the local radio stations, for their help with our fundraisers. Financially, we only made enough money to stay open with a strict budget. We had some really wonderful fundraisers this year.
We are thankful for two churches that really helped us out in planning the Praise and Raise Lupus Gospel Concert, both with their churches and financially. Those two churches were First Lutheran Church (Pastor Jon Beyer) and Church of the Open Door (Pastor Teddy Frye, Sister Francis Diles and his congregation). Of course, we cannot leave out Pastor Steve Lake at Eureka Baptist Church with his choir and congregation and the fact that The Gospel Sons of Amory, Miss., were present and I have to say The Gospel Sons and The Trio make a wonderful group.
The 21st Annual Norma Lampert Memorial Lupus Springers 5K Race and Walk to End Lupus was larger this year than ever. We are seeking a race director for 2017. Again, we had to host An Evening with Grady Nichols Smooth Jazz Concert in Little Rock, but we will be at The Hot Springs Hotel in 2017. We missed being here in Hot Springs, but we have made arrangements to return. Our 19th Annual Terry Paul Thode Lupus Memorial Golf Tournament was better than we expected because people were slow in registering, but all in all, I feel like we were blessed. We had fun and we did make some money.
We need financial help. This is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization based in Hot Springs, serving the state of Arkansas. There are many tax-deductible donations that can be made either by credit card: http://www.firstgiving.com/28300; workplace giving for Combined Federal Campaign (Community Health Charities) can be done through a convenient payroll deduction plan. Our number is: 46907. Although, Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. is not a member agency of United Way, employees can still designate us to receive donations.
Your help is needed for this cruel, complex disease lupus. Too many lupus patients are dying in the city of Hot Springs, not to mention other cities, due to complications of lupus. Help us with this unpredictable, misunderstood, debilitating disease lupus.
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood disease in which the immune system is out of balance, causing damage to any organ system in the body. Symptoms of lupus come and go, change over time and often imitate other illnesses, making lupus difficult to diagnose. Common symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, overwhelming fatigue and fevers that last for days or weeks.
Our mission: To provide patient education, advocacy and support to all affected by lupus, increase public awareness of the debilitating disease, and help raise research dollars to find a better diagnosis, a better treatment, and a cure.
My husband and I will continue to work as volunteers for the cause of lupus to try and eliminate some of the pain and suffering by educating lupus patients, family members and the public that lupus is real, it is not our imagination. The pain is not in our head and we are not looking for drugs.
Please open your heart and send the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. a tax-deductible donation. Make checks payable to: Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc., 220 Mockingbird, Hot Springs, AR 71913. Our telephone number is: 501-525-9380 or 800-294-8878; email [email protected]. Website is http://www.lupus-arkansas.com.
Jamesetta Smith is president of Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc.
Editorial on 09/29/2016