May is lupus awareness month and the Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association (SLALA) has been buzzing with activities. The Association was part of the church service on Mother’s Day at the Methodist Church in Castries; it held a successful lupus conference on May 14th at Palm Haven Hotel; it planned the POP (Put on Purple) for Lupus for yesterday, Friday May 20th and, to end the awareness campaign for May, a Jazz fundraiser in collaboration with the Justus choir will take place this evening, Saturday May 21st.
The fundraiser begins at 5pm at Belargo Park, Cap Estate and will showcase the talent of this young, vibrant choir which has always shown support for the Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association. The choir has performed at SLALA’s annual Christmas party for the last two years and is eager to team up with the Association to bring awareness in a fun way to this chronic illness called lupus.
Apart from the entertainment by the choir, patrons will be treated to a variety of tasty food and drinks and can bid in an auction for a fashionable, original Meme Bete bag to further raise funds for the Association.
Fundraising has been a big part of SLALA’s agenda for most of the year as the Association has been working tirelessly to keep its Viv Byen Programme of Chronic Disease Self-Management going.
Viv Byen is a six-week Stanford University programme that has been proven to help persons with chronic diseases make better life choices with regards to their medication use, and aid communication with their health care providers thereby reducing the number of visits to the doctor as well as the number of days spent at hospital. This reduces the burden emotionally, financially and mentally on the patient, the family, the workplace and the nation as a whole.
SLALA is encouraging everyone to come out and support this worthy cause as it aims to improve the lives of persons living with this disease and to bring awareness to the nation.
For further information and tickets contact SLALA’s office on 459 0092, Bay Medical Centre 459 2640 or Dr. Celia Downes’ office on 453 0857.
