Atlanta Annual Walk to End Lupus Set For May 2nd

The Lupus Foundation of America is hosting another edition of its Walk to End Lupus Now, an annual event that takes place across the country to support the fight against lupus, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 2. Last year the walk was the largest LFA-sponsored walk in the nation, gathering over 8,000 supporters.

This is the 9th edition of the walk that is organized by the foundation to raise funding and awareness for the life-threatening autoimmune disease. Several groups have already joined the cause and announced their support and participation of the Atlanta walk, which will take place at Piedmont Park, and will include a team from Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons, since physicians William Segal and Marc Lay have a close relationship with the Lupus Foundation of America.

The Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons members are engaged in supporting the organization through the walk, with Segal serving as one of the members of LFA’s Medical Advisory Board for about 10 years. Last year, the team was able to raise $2,298 to support the cause, becoming the largest medical walk team in the event and projecting them to the top 10% of donors.

“I was very proud last year that we got such an amazing turn-out for such a great cause,” told Segal in a press release. “We’re campaigning even harder this year because lupus patients and their families need the Georgia Chapter, their programs, services and support, now more than ever.” Lupus is still one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose and manage, with the Georgia Chapter expecting to raise more than $550,000 this year.

The Lupus Foundation of America also recently recognized the volunteers and participants that make the initiative happen, through an article by National Walk Manager Sara Bentley. In the article “Why We Walk,” published on the Lupus Foundation of America’s Blog, Bentley introduced the story of Crystal Torres, a top walker and team captain at the Tampa Walk to End Lupus Now. Torres was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago, started participating in the walk since its beginnings five years ago, and has become an advocate for the fight against lupus in order to support others who suffer with the burden of the disease.