Participants in Sudbury's 14th annual Walk for Lupus raised more than $1,000 on May 7 to help find a cure for the rare disease.
Lupus, an autoimmune disease that is often characterized by a butterfly shaped rash on the face can harm the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
Around one in 1,000 Canadians is diagnosed with lupus, but the disease is nine times more common in women than in men.
Christine Kasaboski, one of the walk's organizers, was diagnosed with lupus in January 2011.
When she was first diagnosed she said she lost her hair, developed a rash on her face and had intense chest pain.
After she was diagnosed with lupus she was prescribed a drug called Prednisone to treat the symptoms. The problem with the medication is that it can have severe side-effects, ranging from weight gain to depression and anxiety.
“It would be nice to one day find a cure, or not as harsh a treatment,” Kasaboski said.
All funds from the walk went to Lupus Ontario, to help find a cure for the disease.
To help support the search for a lupus cure, visit www.walkforlupus.ca.
