By David Rosen

The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) kicked off on Alki today for the ALR’s 5th annual Walk with Us To Cure Lupus. In attendance was 35 + different groups and over 600 people total.

Local residents could walk individually or form a team with family, friends or co-workers. All of the donations made to the ALR and EVERY dollar raised through the ALR’s Walk with Us To Cure Lupus program go directly to support lupus research programs.

Jordan Babineaux of the Seattle Seahawks hosted the event for the second year in a row.

Sisters Against Lupus was the largest group that attended with nearly 200 people.

The Sweet Mahogany Drill Team attended as well for pre-race entertainment.

While there are so many questions about Lupus, there are some facts that cannot be disregarded. Anyone can get the disease. Nine out of 10 people who develop Lupus at some point in their lives are women. It strikes mostly women of childbearing age, ranging from 15 to 44 years old. It is a fact that men can develop it as well, thus it has the possibility of affecting us all.

You may be wondering, what is Lupus? Lupus is an acute and chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ in the body.

An estimated 1.4 million Americans and at least five million people worldwide have a form of Lupus, making it more common than leukemia, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.
The exact cause of Lupus is unknown and Lupus has no cure.

That said, Lupus is not a death sentence, and complications are preventable with an early diagnosis, proper medication, and a healthy lifestyle.