50 for 50 Day 45: Lupus Foundation of America

It’s my 50th Birthday Celebration, Day 45. I had this bright birthday idea – because I feel so lucky and have pretty much everything I could ever need, I am asking people to get involved with charities, if they are so inspired, in lieu of any fabulous birthday presents you were planning on sending me (or not).

I am featuring a different charity every day for 50 days leading up to my 50th birthday to give you plenty of chances to get involved. I started on May 18. I wanted to give a voice to different good works around the globe. If you ARE inspired to take action, please leave me a comment and let me know that you did. This is all I want for my birthday – to spread some love and kindness. One thousand thanks.

Erin with a hangover. This picture makes me laugh so hard!

I tried not to do many disease-specific organizations, because there are just so many diseases and who is to say which is more deserving? Cancer? Diabetes? Blindness?

But I had to do this one for Erin, my friend who is also known by her blog name, the Queen of Spain.

I have seen Erin battle Lupus for several years now and have seen how it has turned her life upside down. She has gone from a nonstop dynamo to someone who has to guard her energy carefully, never sure when she is going to run out and collapse. I have seen her lose her memory and get attacked by internet trolls who claim she is lying about her illness. I have seen her lose weight to a scary degree and then, full of disease-calming steroids, bloat up to a point where she looked nothing like her former self.

She has handled this all with strength and honesty and focus. It humbles me and makes me proud to call her a friend.

Lupus is the most baffling, weird, quirky, obnoxious disease. It can manifest in so many ways and comes out of nowhere. So, for Erin, today’s post features the Lupus Foundation of America.

From their website:
The LFA was established in 1977 when local lupus organizations came together to bring national attention and resources to lupus. Since that time, the LFA has evolved into the field’s preeminent nonprofit lupus organization with nearly 300 chapters, support groups and community representatives nationwide.

The LFA plays a key role in bringing together all stakeholders — researchers, clinicians, elected officials, policy makers, industry leaders, other national organizations, and people affected by lupus — to address lupus on the federal, state and local levels.

Donate here. They are also looking for people to be Lupus advocates.

Previously featured organizations:
Scholarship America
Media Matters for America
Boys and Girls Club
Your Local Food Bank
Girls for a Change
Operation Smile
Wheels for Humanity
National Security Archive
Books for Africa
Seed Savers Exchange
MAP International
The Fresh Air Fund
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Arghand
Impact Personal Safety
Kristin Brooks Hope Center
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
Light Up the World Foundation
Planned Parenthood
Doctors Without Borders
Heifer International
Team Rubicon
Kiva
The Carter Center
Bikes Not Bombs
Friends of Maddie
ProPublica
Surfrider Foundation
Livestrong
United Through Reading
Operation Shower
The Liz Logelin Foundation
KidSave
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Kids Vs Global Warming
Help a Mother Out
Direct Relief International
WriteGirl
Accelerated Cure for Multiple Sclerosis
Women for Women
Epic Change
Amnesty International