1st Mariner Bank is proud to support the Baltimore Lupus Walk.
Walk for Lupus Now is the signature event of the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. In more than 50 cities across America, thousands of people walk to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lupus and raise essential funds for education, support services, and research...
Join us in giving hope to people with lupus! It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans, and 70,000 residents in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia have a form of lupus. Lupus is a chronic and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that can be devastating for people with lupus and their families. No cure or satisfactory treatment exists. November 2008 marked 50 years since a drug has been approved for the treatment of lupus. But, there is hope on the horizon, and with your help we can find better treatments, and a cure for lupus.
To find out more about the walk and how you can help, go to baltimorelupuswalk.kintera.org.
What Do I Need to Know About Lupus?
If you have been diagnosed with lupus, you will want to know as much as you can about the disease. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs inside the body). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from foreign substances, like bacteria and viruses. With lupus, your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body's healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies ("auto" means "self") to attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.