When the Walk-Along for Lupus, the longest running lupus walk on Long Island began 15 years ago, 350 people raised $35,000. Last year over 2,000 people raised over $270,000! The money raised every year at the Walk-Along for Lupus provides the main source of funding for the Lupus Alliance of LIQ`s many support programs and services, as well as their donations to research into the cause and cure of lupus which have topped over $375,000 in the last few years.

Their programs include financial assistance for medical bills, prescriptions and household expenses, support services that include support groups, one-on-one telephone counseling, educational seminars, doctor referral lists, brochures, newsletters and more, as well as community outreach programs designed to spread awareness about lupus through libraries, private organizations and schools, and a program for children with lupus offering scholarships, financial assistance, fun outings and more.

The festivities at this year`s walk includes, Greg-T and the Z-100 prize van, live music, face painting, the NY Islanders give-a-way van, massage demonstrations, the USA Skateasauras, special gifts from Ricola, hand-outs and special lupus supporters only discount code from Grabber Warmers, breakfast, lunch and more. Registration for the walk will begin at 8:30am, and the walk begins at 10am, Rain or Shine. The minimum registration fee is $15 per person. Prizes include Gift Cards to BestBuy and Macy’s when you individually raise $500 or more and everyone who raises over $50 receives a Walk-Along for Lupus T-Shirt. Be sure and raise at least $50 to get your Walk-Along for lupus T-Shirt this year because after the walk we will be holding new Lupus T-shirt contests that could win you great prizes!

To register online and begin collecting donations from family, friends, co-workers and online pals, please visit www.lupusliqueens.org and click on the orange Walk-Along loop. The Walk-Along website is up and running and ready for you to start fundraising today. Once you register you can design your own walk webpage, add pictures and text, your own YouTube video explaining why you walk for Lupus! You can also download fundraising widgets for your MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook pages to help you collect donations from your online friends and family. Take advantage of your social media memberships by sending out links to your walk collection page on Twitter, facebook, myspace, digg and more. You can also register at the walk or at the Bellmore office the week before the walk at 2255 Centre Avenue. Please call the office at 516-783-3370 for extended walk business hours, questions and details.

Be sure to visit the walk website at www.firstgiving.com/lupusliqueens to visit our generous walk sponsors that so far include Fusco, Brandenstein and Rada, The Rampart Group, Sperry, AJ2 Security, All Craft Digital, Nussbaum, Yates, Klein, Berg & Wolpow, The SLE Autoimmune Treatment Center North Shore LIJ, Z-100, King Kullen, Optimum Growth Advisors, Ridgewood Savings Bank, ABC Wellness Center, and Uncle Wally`s.