Join us for an opportunity to bring the lupus community together for a day of connection and education in mid-Michigan on Saturday, April 6. Open to those with lupus, friends and family, medical professionals and students. Registration opens at 9 am and the event will take place from 9 am-1 pm on Michigan State University’s campus. Handicap parking available and the event will take place in the accessible radiology building auditorium.

Speakers include:

“Lupus and the Antiphospholipid Syndrome”
Dr. Carol Beals, MD, rheumatologist  

Dr. Carol Beals, MD is a retired rheumatologist with decades of experience in the Lansing area. She established the Beals Institute, later renamed the Great Lakes Center of Rheumatology West, which provides the highest quality and state-of-the-art health care for arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and osteoporosis. Dr. Beals will address the connection between lupus and the Antiphospholipid Syndrome. People with lupus may develop Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), a condition that can cause blood clots to form in various parts of the body. Depending on the location of clots, the effects can be life threatening.

“Plaquenil and the Eyes”
Dr. Bridget C. Grubb, O.D., L.O. Eye Care Grand Ledge

The anti-malarial drug Plaquenil is often prescribed to those with lupus to lower the immune system’s ability to cause inflammation. This can help control symptoms like rashes, skin and mouth sores and joint pain. A rare side effect of Plaquenil is damage to the eye’s retina and using Plaquenil for a long period of time may cause serious vision loss. Dr. Bridget Grubb, O.D., is an ophthalmologist at L.O. Eye Care in Grand Ledge and will speak more on Plaquenil and its effect on the eyes.

“Neurologic Manifestations of Systemic Lupus”
Dr. Amit Sachdev, MD, neurologist

Lupus can attack any part of the nervous system – the central nervous system (CNS lupus), peripheral nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The wide array of symptoms include seizures, strokes, confusion, brain fog, psychosis, myelitis, loss of vision, face pain, dizziness, carpal tunnel, headaches, depression and anxiety, among others. Amit Sachdev, MD, is the Medical Director for the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University and board certified in Neuromuscular Medicine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Neurology. Dr. Sachdev will speak about the neurologic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Admission is free of charge or suggested donation.

The Michigan Lupus Foundation would like to thank Michigan State University and University of Michigan Health-Sparrow for their assistance with this symposium.

Sponsored by:

Donations made to the Michigan Lupus Foundation directly support those with lupus through assistance, awareness and research with the goal of finding a cure. The MI Lupus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. To learn more about the Michigan Lupus Foundation, visit http://milupus.org.

Make it a Sunday Funday and join the 9th Annual Let’s Bowl Out Lupus! Enjoy 3 games of bowling, pizza and pop. Not a bowler but still want to support the cause? No problem, attend without bowling at a discount rate. Hosted by Ray Chizmadia and all proceeds support the Michigan Lupus Foundation.

Contact Ray Chizmadia to reserve your spot: (586) 212-0775 or zihc5@sbcglobal.net.

Join us for an opportunity to bring the lupus community together for a day of connection and education in Northern Michigan. Hear from experts on mental health, therapeutic nutrition and more. Open to those with lupus, friends and family, medical professionals and students. Registration opens at 12:30 pm and the event will take place from 1-4 pm at the Park Place Hotel downtown Traverse City. Handicap parking available and the event will take place on the main floor.

Speakers include:

Dr. Jill Balla D.C., Authentic Health LLC

With over 15 years of dedicated experience, Dr. Jill Balla D.C. is a highly qualified chiropractor with a passion for therapeutic nutrition. In her presentation, she will explore autoimmune conditions from an alternative paradigm using nutritional therapy to help prevent the body from causing further destruction in addition to removing deficiencies and pathogens in order to allow the body to heal.

Rick Coates, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse

Lupus and its treatment options can both impair one’s mental and emotional health. About 80-90% of people with lupus experience depression and/or anxiety at some point throughout the chronic disease. Rick Coates, Executive Director of NAMI Grand Traverse, will join us to talk about the importance of mental health and what resources are available in the area.

Kimberly Dimond, MI Lupus Foundation Executive Director

Hear notable national and statewide updates in the lupus community including advocacy efforts, working with insurance and co-pay assistance programs, tips for traveling internationally with lupus and more.

$10 registration / Members attend free

Make a weekend of it! Enjoy a guided wine tasting amidst the panoramic fall views of Bonobo Winery’s vineyards on Friday, October 6 from 6-8 pm. Learn more and buy tickets here. All proceeds support lupus services, education efforts, awareness and research across the state of Michigan.

Donations made to the Michigan Lupus Foundation directly support those with lupus through assistance, awareness and research with the goal of finding a cure. The MI Lupus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. To learn more about the Michigan Lupus Foundation, visit http://milupus.org.

Enjoy a guided wine tasting amidst the panoramic fall views of Bonobo Winery’s vineyards and the West Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula. The tasting will include five 1-ounce pours and shareable small plates. Bid on silent auction items or make additional contributions to support lupus services, education efforts, awareness and research across the state of Michigan.

Act fast! The tasting is limited to 30 guests. Register by Thursday, October 5. Tickets cannot be guaranteed at the door. All attendees must be at least 21 years old.

$50 per person (at cost)

Make a weekend of it! An educational lupus symposium is planned for Saturday, October 7 from 1-4 pm at the Park Place Hotel downtown Traverse City. Learn more and register here.

Join the Michigan Lupus Foundation on Saturday, September 9 at the Pond Pavilion at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. Come walk rain or shine in support of lupus awareness, patient services and lupus research to help find a cure!

• Registration $25 per adult / $18 per child, which includes zoo admission if registered by August 26

• Registration on site opens @ 9 am

• Teams encouraged

• Corporate sponsorships available

• Walking is not required for those who cannot physically participate - sit and enjoy the rest of the event!

• Interested in donating an item for the silent auction? Email info@milupus.org. We appreciate your support!

Thank You to Our Event Sponsor: GSK

Join GSK Patient Advocate & Registered Nurse Leigh Mark for a special evening support group to discuss lifestyle and behavioral tips to help manage lupus, such as treatment goals, symptom tracking, communication, and sticking to a treatment plan.

Register here to receive the Zoom meeting link: milupus.org/support-groups

Join the MI Lupus Foundation on Sunday, May 21 at Rowden Park in Lapeer. Enjoy great raffle items, games, food and music! Come walk rain or shine to help spread lupus awareness in memory of lupus warrior Timberly Ranshaw.

• Registration $25 per person, children 17 and under are free

• Registration on site opens @ 12 pm

• Teams encouraged! Fundraise using the link below

• Sponsorships available

• Walking is not required for those who cannot physically participate - sit and enjoy the rest of the event!

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors: GSK and Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc. is partnering with the MI Lupus Foundation for an educational symposium featuring topics on Clinical Research Trials and Participation, Patient Empowerment, Treatment Access Challenges, Care Partnering and Tools for Survival when Dealing with Chronic Disease. A list of regional lupus clinical trial opportunities, patient empowerment & advocacy resource materials and current healthcare access issues will be available for distribution.

Lunch is included and the event and luncheon are free, but you must register to attend.

Make it a Sunday Funday and join the 8th Annual Let’s Bowl Out Lupus! Enjoy 3 games of bowling, pizza and pop. Not a bowler but still want to support the cause? No problem, attend without bowling at a discount rate. All proceeds support the MI Lupus Foundation.

Contact Ray Chizmadia to reserve your spot: (586) 212-0775 or zihc5@sbcglobal.net.