Green Turtle Event March 10th!

A really cool event I came across on Facebook set up by some very motivated people. Thought I would repost. Good stuuf!

Dear Friends ~

As many of you know, 11 years ago my best friend, Danielle Garceau was diagnosed with Lupus, a life-threatening auto immune disease. Over the last three years we have been working effortlessly to raise money for lupus research. Last year, working in conjunction with the Alliance for Lupus Research and generous donors like yourselves, our teams alone successfully raised over $20,000!

On Tuesday, March 10th, the Greene Turtle in Fells Point has graciously offered to host a Funds for Friends event at their bar/restaurant. They will generously donate 10% of the entire days proceeds to the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR).

Please spread the word and come to the Greene Turtle on Tuesday, March 10th to support this great cause. There will be great happy hour specials, beer pong and flip cup tables, and small raffle prizes to be given away! Stop in for a drink, stay for dinner and a fun time with friends!

If possible, please let me know by the end of February if you plan on coming - the Greene Turtle wants to be sure they have enough staff on hand to serve us!

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Greene Turtle in Fells Point on Tuesday, March 10th! Please come out and support a GREAT cause!

Thanks,

Katie Rigler

http://walk.lupusresearch.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=2062&team_id=42900

***Recent Developments***

* In March 2008, a scientist discovered an association between a gene located on the X chromosome and the risk of developing lupus.

* In December 2008, GlaxoSmithKline and Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel inhibitors of endosomal Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) for the treatment of immuno-inflammatory diseases. TLRs are key receptors of the innate immune system that can induce strong inflammatory responses. This alliance will target autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as lupus.

*** Facts about Lupus ***

* Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissue.

* Lupus can cause life-threatening damage to major organs such as the kidneys, lungs, heart and central nervous system.

* Right now, the only treatment for Lupus is immunosuppressive drugs.
The current treatments only fight the symptoms and manifestations of lupus, not the cause of the disease itself. Over time, the drugs are toxic and the side effects can be serious.

* Lupus is the leading cause of death among women with autoimmune diseases who are in their childbearing years (ages 15-45).

* Women are five times more likely to die from lupus than men, and African Americans are three times more likely to die from lupus than Caucasians.

* Between 1979 and 1998 there was an approximate 70% increase in lupus deaths among middle-aged African American women