Fundraising for Lupus

My name is Jason Seelye and last year my mother was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis.

WHAT IS LUPUS?

 Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your immune system creates autoantibodies that attacks and destroys the bodies own healthy tissue causing inflammation, pain, and damage to the body. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, at least 1.5 million Americans have Lupus with 16,000 diagnosed yearly. Currently there is no cure for it. Only drugs that can help treat the symptoms.  For more information on Lupus I urge you to visit the sites of The Lupus foundation of America and The Lupus Research Institute 

ABOUT MY MOM

She is a wife, mother of 4, a former marine, and previously a high school teacher. Currently she is a contractor for the military. She is a great woman that has done nothing but give her time for the bettering of people. Whether it be for her country, family, or students; she is a giver and a great person...  but last year she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. My mother's type of Lupus affects her joints and causes constant pain on those parts of the body. Her Lupus flares up (worsens signifigantly) upon the weather changing. Ever since her diagnosis, her quality of life has gone drastically. She is not the strong, confident person she used to be. This disease has affected her physically and mentally. Most days she has difficulty getting out of bed due to just how hard the Lupus has been on her and it kills her. Due to our father being in the military, he was deployed over seas at the time of her diagnosis. I and my older sister had to step up to take care of our family. While she greatly appreciates our help and understanding, she still wishes there was more she could do. It has been a tough time for her, and unfortunately she will have to suffer like this for the rest of her life.

WHY I WANT TO RAISE MONEY

Last night, the day before I started this my mom and I had a conversation about her disease. She said it frustrated her how she sees all these walks for cancer and other diseases, yet she has a hard time coming across a person that even knows about Lupus. She felt that not many people know about Lupus, let alone those trying to make a difference. So I refuse to not try and be the difference Lupus and other autoimmune diseases so desperately needs. My goal is to raise money to donate and raise awareness for this terrible disease. Any and all support is highly appreciated by my mother, other Lupus patients, and I. 

Thank you so much for any consideration you take in my fundraiser.