For $5 we can all win the fight against lupus. The Lupus Alliance of America LI/Q Affiliate is holding their annual raffle starting April 1st and ending August 4th. This year the raffle prizes are much bigger and better than ever before, which the Alliance hopes will bring in more money to help expand its community outreach programs. Several new programs are in the works now that will help spread awareness about lupus to every community in the Long Island/Queens area.

Libraries across all three counties will be holding special forums on lupus, as part of the Lupus Loop Tour. Speakers will go over the basics of lupus as well as the new clinical trials available to all those who have lupus, which will hopefully bring about new and better medications to treat the disease. There hasn’t been a new medication approved for lupus in over 40 years, making these new clinical trials not only exciting but hopeful to everyone touched by lupus, that we are closer to better treatment and a cure.

The Alliance will also be re-energizing its Speakers Bureau and will be sending out letters to all local clubs and organizations offering to speak at their meetings about lupus. Several other programs geared towards the Hispanic, Native American and African American population are also in the works. There is a higher prevalence of lupus in these groups, and The Alliance will be making a special effort to make sure they are aware of lupus, its symptoms, and where they can go for help and assistance.

Raffle tickets are $1, and are sold individually, or you can purchase a book of 6 for $5. The grand prizes this year are a 20in flat panel LCD TV, a portable DVD player, and an iPod. If you don’t win one of the grand prizes you will still have a chance at several other prizes offered. Drawing will be held at the lupus office on August 5th. You can call the Lupus office at 516-783-3370 to order raffle booklets, or you can purchase them over the phone with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.

If you are interested in booking a speaker on lupus for your organization, or if you would like to know if and when the lupus loop tour will be at your library please call the lupus office at 516-783-3370 and ask for Silvia Heredia, the outreach coordinator. Please take a chance on a lupus raffle; you might win a great prize, and someone with lupus may win their freedom from this debilitating disease.