The Lupus Foundation of America North Carolina Chapter will hold two support groups in August in  Mecklenburg County, one on Aug. 8 at Northlake Mall, and another Aug. 14 in Charlotte. The meetings are for anyone living with lupus, their family and caregivers.

CENTRAL CHARLOTTE*
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
1:00-2:30PM
Myers Park Presbyterian Church
Outreach Center-Room F102
1073 Providence Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28207
*This group meets the second Wednesday of each month

NORTH CHARLOTTE*
Thursday, August 8, 2013
6:30-8:00PM
Northlake Mall
LiveWELL Carolinas!
6801 Northlake Mall Drive
Charlotte, NC 28216
* This group meets the second Thursday of each month

There is no charge to attend the meeting, and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the LFANC at patientservices@lupuslinks.org or at 877-849-8271, ext. 2. For more information, visit www.lupusnc.org.

This group provides participants with an opportunity to receive introductory information about lupus, encourage the expression of concerns, provide an opportunity to share experiences, encourage and support positive coping strategies, and emphasize the importance of medical treatment. Meeting programs vary from guest speakers to DVD presentations and open group discussion.
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, hits out of nowhere, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation. An estimated 45,000 North Carolina residents and 1.5 million Americans are estimated to have a form of lupus.

by