Lupus Society of Illinois 

eChronicle  July 2015
In This Issue
Quick Links
Upcoming Events

August 8
Western Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk

August 12
Educational Teleconference:Lupus & Disability

September 27
Chicago Illinois Lupus Walk
2015 Illinois Lupus Walks!

Thanks to the 800+ participants who came out to the Southern & Northern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walks last month!

The walk has brought in over $80,000 so far!  What an amazing accomplishment!

Don't miss one of the largest and most inspiring lupus events of the year!

Join us at one of our remaining  events - register today!
Western Suburbs -
August 8, 2015
Chicago (Lincoln Park) - September 27, 2015

Find out MORE!
Bank of America
Chicago Marathon
LCR

Running the
Bank of America
Chicago Marathon?

Want to run for a reason?

Join Lupus Charity Runners!

Contact Brianna Svec.
Join a Committee Committees are great opportunities to meet others in the lupus community. 

Contact LSI to find out more about ongoing committees and how you can help.
Educational Opportunities 
 
Lupus & Bone Health
Dr. Robert Katz presented on Lupus And Bone Health via teleconference on 5/21.  You can listen to the entire presentation here.

Save the Date

Lupus & Disability 
On August 12, Jeffrey Rabin of Jeffrey Rabin and Associates will present on Lupus & Disability via teleconference for LSI.

Registration is required. 
CFC #: 21759

A Message from the President & CEO

 

I hope everyone had a safe and festive holiday weekend. The weather certainly cooperated!

 

Today we invite you to PUSH CONGRESS FOR A CURE.  as a coalition member of the Lupus Research Institute, we join forces on national advocacy initiatives.  Today, we invite you to tell your legislator to vote "YES" for 21st Century Cures Act H.R. 6!

 

Summer can be a challenging time for people with sun sensitivity. An estimated 40-70% of people with lupus are sensitive to the sun's UV rays. This edition of the eChronicle provides tips on how to manage your exposure to the sun - helping you get the most out of the summer months.

 

LSI hosts educational teleconferences to enable everyone in Illinois to benefit from expert presenters on lupus-related topics. In May, LSI began archiving the recordings from these teleconferences. The first archived was Dr. Robert Katz's presentation on Lupus & Bone Health.

 

Our next teleconference is on Lupus and Disability and will be presented by Disability Attorney Jeff Rabin - a longtime supporter of the LSI who has fought for the lupus communities rights for years. Registration is free and required. For more information or to register, click here.

 

LSI is working hard to make sure we continue to meet the needs of the lupus community. Below you'll see a thank you letter from a recipient of the Living with Lupus Grant. Navigator's Corner includes information on some of the requests we've received. We hope if you ever have the need, you'll reach out to us. We are here to serve you - our lupus community.

 

We are only able support you thanks to donation and fundraising events like the Illinois Lupus Walks. The Southern and Northern Suburbs Lupus Walks were wonderfully successful!  

We hope you'll support us at the Western Suburbs Lupus Walk on August 8th or the Chicago Lupus Walk on September 27th.   These fundraisers not only enable us to provide all of our programs and services at no cost, Walks are also a terrific way to come together as a community and join voices. We hope to see you there.

 

Together we make a difference.

 

Charles Brummell

Donations Making A Difference
Funds raised through the Illinois Lupus Walks and general donations are used to achieve LSI's mission in
Illinois.  T hese are just some of the examples of how LSI turns donation dollars into service to the lupus community.
News You Can Use
Lupus and UV Rays

Summertime can be a challenging time of year for people living with lupus.  If you are photosensitive, this time of year can bring on extra challenges - exposure to UV light can increase lupus symptoms or bring on a flare.  There are some tips to help you navigate the summer sun while being mindful of the risk UV light produces.

Avoid mid-day and tropical sun.  Staying inside between 10:00am and 4:00pm will reduce your exposure to the peak hours of UV rays.  Also, cloudy or overcast days still pose a threat to UV rays. 

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Navigator Corner 
Support when you need it

The Lupus Society of Illinois offers support on virtually any lupus related topics.  Over the last few weeks, LSI has received several questions on everything from support groups, medications and physician referrals. 

Living with Lupus can cause depression or feelings of isolation.  The LSI provides several options for combating these problems:
  1. Support Groups - hosted throughout the state, support groups are a great way to meet others in your community and share information.
  2. Individual Peer Support - LSI can put someone living with lupus or a caregiver in touch with a volunteer with a similar background.
  3. Lupus Navigator Program - LSI can help you find a Psychologist, Psychiatrist or Social Worker to talk through any issues. 
Thanks to fundraising events like the Illinois Lupus Walks, these programs and services are offered at no cost to the individual in need.

If you have any lupus-related questions please contact the LSI's Navigator for assistance or call 312-542-0002 
Impact: Lupus 
Making A Difference

  Every month, LSI provides 2 grants up to $400 each to cover lupus-related medical expenses.  Below is part of a letter received from a recent recipient:

 

To the Lupus Society of Illinois,

 

I want to show my appreciation as I was just informed that I have been awarded the Living with Lupus Grant. In being awarded this grant and having all my pending medical bills paid in full, is a great weight lifted off my shoulders.  It has been very hard these last few years since being diagnosed with SLE and constantly being in and out of the hospital for medical treatments and emergency hospitalizations, leaving me unable to work and bills piling up....

 

Thank you for helping us learn how to live with this disease and how not to let it control our lives but letting us control it.

 

Click here for more information on the Living With Lupus Grant. 

LRI Advocacy News 
Push Congress for a Cure 

Tell Your Legislator to Vote Yes for 21st Century Cures Act -- H.R. 6

The landmark 21st Century Cures Act, H.R. 6, (#Cures2015) is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives this week - we need the lupus community to once again step up to help make sure the bill passes in the House with an email or call to your local legislators!

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Our Mission
LSI promotes lupus awareness and complements the work of health care professionals by providing personalized resources for the lupus community while supporting research.
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