October is Lupus Awareness Month... yet lupus remains under-recognized
and under-funded
MARKHAM, ON,
Oct. 1
/CNW/ - In October, lupus patients and supporters across
Canada
will recognize Lupus Awareness Month as a time to reflect on what all Canadians can do to increase awareness of this under-recognized and under-funded disease. Joining in our efforts to promote awareness of this life-threatening and life-altering disease are our Lupus
Canada
Ambassadors Colin Mochrie, Debra McGrath and Patrick McKenna. Colin is most recognized for his work on Whose Line is it Anyway?, Debra currently stars on CBC's Little Mosque on the Prairie and Patrick is best known for playing
Harold Green
on the television series The Red Green Show and
Marty Stephens
on Traders. "We are thrilled to have such well known Canadian talent helping us to move the vision and mission of Lupus
Canada
forward through increased awareness" says Lupus
Canada
Executive Director
Catherine Madden
.
Lupus affects tens of thousands of Canadian men, women and children, yet many people are still unaware of the disease. Its symptoms often mimic other illnesses, and it can attack any tissue or organ in the body. Lupus patients often suffer from the disease in very different ways, hence the moniker "The Disease with 1000 Faces'. Common symptoms of lupus include joint pain, skin rashes, sun sensitivity, extreme fatigue, fever, chest pain and seizures.
Lupus
Canada
President André Vincent says: "One of the principal challenges for people living with lupus is the fact that people around them do not understand what lupus is, its effect and the effect of medications involved in treating this disease. For this reason, Lupus Awareness Month is a critical way to help people." A registered charitable organization, Lupus
Canada
provides support to people whose lives have been affected by lupus. One of our main initiatives is increasing awareness of the disease so that while we continue to work towards our vision of Life without lupus we can ensure that Canadians are living well with lupus today. For information about lupus, please visit www.lupuscanada.org or call 1(800) 661-1468.
For further information: Catherine Madden, Executive Director, Lupus Canada, Tel: (905) 513-0004 Ext.222, Fax: (905) 513-9516, E-mail: [email protected]
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