MICHIGAN LUPUS FOUNDATION HOSTS OCTOBER EVENTS IN TRAVERSE CITY
Traverse City Lupus Symposium & Sip and Support for Lupus
(Traverse City, MI – September 24, 2023) – The Michigan Lupus Foundation is hosting two Traverse City events in support of lupus patients: 1) Sip & Support for Lupus at Bonobo Winery on Friday, October 6 from 6-8 pm; and 2) an educational Lupus Symposium on Saturday, October 7 from 1-4 pm at the Park Place Hotel downtown Traverse City.
It is estimated around 14,000 Michiganders suffer from lupus and between 322,000 to 1.5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with a form of lupus. The Michigan Lupus Foundation hosts events and special initiatives to help raise awareness about the physical, emotional, and financial impact of lupus. Spreading awareness provides support, resources and advocacy for people fighting the disease.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can affect any part of the body causing widespread pain and inflammation. People with lupus often suffer from joint pain, extreme fatigue and organ damage. Diagnosing lupus can take 2-6 years on average per patient since it can often mimic other diseases and there is not one conclusive test. Fundraising for lupus is necessary to drive research initiatives and provide support and services to those who need it.
Kimberly Dimond, Executive Director of the MI Lupus Foundation, is a lupus patient and Traverse City resident. “I’ve had lupus for over 17 years and this will be an opportunity to bring the lupus community together for a weekend of connection and education in Northern Michigan,” Dimond said. “The last event the foundation hosted in the area was back in 2019 and as a resident myself, I’m looking forward to expanding our representation in Northern Michigan.”
More on each event:
Sip & Support for Lupus at Bonobo Winery
Friday, October 6, 6-8 pm
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. All attendees must be at least 21 years old. $50 per person.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit https://www.milupus.org/events/sip-support-for-lupus.
Traverse City Lupus Symposium at the Park Place Hotel
Saturday, October 7, 1-4 pm
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. Tickets are only $10 per person and members attend free.
Speakers include:
Dr. Jill Balla D.C., Authentic Health LLC of Traverse City
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.
To learn more and register, visit https://www.milupus.org/events/tclupus2023.
About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can affect any part of the body causing widespread pain and inflammation. Common symptoms include crippling fatigue, fever and joint pain. Lupus affects each person differently and may go into periods of flares and remissions. More people have lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined. It is estimated that between 322,000 and 1.5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with this disease. Lupus primarily affects young women between the ages of 15-45 years old and occurs more frequently in women of African American, Hispanic, or Asian descent. There is currently no cure for lupus.
About the MI Lupus Foundation
The MI Lupus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure. The foundation provides financial and informational resources for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. The MI Lupus Foundation has been continually serving Michigan since 1974 and is working to build a brighter future for all lupus patients and their families. For more information, visit http://milupus.org.
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