The Jets, the Lupus Research Alliance and the Atlantic Health Jets Women's Organization (AHJWO) will host Lupus Awareness Day on October 2, 2016, at MetLife Stadium when the Jets take on the Seattle Seahawks. This event is designed to increase awareness of lupus, a devastating autoimmune disease, and promote the Lupus Research Alliance's mission to prevent, treat and cure lupus through medical research and raise funds for lupus research.
Prior to kickoff at 1:00 p.m., AHJWO members, along with Lupus Research Alliance staff and volunteers, will distribute purple wristbands for lupus awareness and collect donations from fans entering the stadium gates. In addition, fans are encouraged to play in Fan Duel contests supporting the Lupus Research Alliance at www.fanduel.com/lupus.
The Jets are deeply committed to supporting the Lupus Research Alliance, a national voluntary health organization chaired by Woody Johnson ‒ a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson and owner of the New York Jets. The Lupus Research Alliance's mission is to find better treatments and ultimately prevent and cure systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus), a debilitating autoimmune disease, by supporting the most promising and innovative lupus biomedical research. Collectively to date, the organization has committed over $200 million to lupus research projects at the most prestigious universities, medical schools and hospitals throughout the world. The Board of Directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, so 100% of all donations received goes directly to support lupus research programs.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, cells and organs. Symptoms are unpredictable and can range from extreme fatigue, skin rashes, severe joint inflammation and muscle pain to organ failure and even death. Lupus is not a rare disease – an estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer from lupus. More people are diagnosed with lupus than those who suffer from diseases such as leukemia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis. The exact cause of lupus is unknown, however, research suggests it is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (e.g., infection, sunlight, stress) that trigger the disease in susceptible individuals. Ninety percent of those diagnosed with lupus are women and the disease is especially prevalent among those of African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American descent.
For more information about the Lupus Research Alliance, please call 800-867-1743 or visit www.lupusresearch.org.
