A MESSAGE FROM Eric's NYC Half Marathon: Team Life Without Lupus Donation Page
Family & Friends,
I hope to find you and your loved ones happy and healthy as we start off 2022! I know the last couple of years have been challenging and ambiguous for all of us to say the least, but I am writing to ask for your support in a cause that is very close to my family and I and one that is especially important as we remain in this pandemic. I'm very excited to say that I've just secured a spot in the 2022 New York City Half Marathon as a part of Team Life Without Lupus! As a part of this team, I have pledged to raise funds for the Lupus Research Alliance, the country's preeminent organization supporting the Lupus community.
As some of you already know, my lovely Mom, Lori, has been living with Lupus for years, many of those early years undiagnosed. In case you aren't familiar with the disease, Lupus is a serious and complex autoimmune disease that is chronic and can be debilitating, yet it remains one of the least recognized (and least diagnosed) major diseases that affects so many in our country and globally, especially women. On top of it all, COVID-19 is especially threatening for those with autoimmune disease and/or those who are on immunosuppressants that weaken the immune system. For those of you who know my Mom, you know she is one of the strongest women out there and she has not let this disease stop her! However, even if you don't see it, managing Lupus does not come with little effort or pain and can require drastic lifestyle changes that are not easy, can be financially stressful, and often difficult to navigate in terms of what life changes are necessary for those affected to stay healthy, reduce pain and inflammation in the body, and live a "normal" day such as those of us free of this disease.
Today, I am reaching out to you to ask for your support as I run the NYC Half Marathon on March 20, 2022 as part of Team Life Without Lupus -- and most importantly in helping me reach my fundraising goal of $3,000 to help one day achieve a Life Without Lupus for my Mom and the many, many others who suffer from it. If you are able, please donate what you can right here on this page by clicking "Donate Today" button above -- no amount is too small! All funds raised will go directly to the Lupus Research Alliance to deliver safe new treatments, prevention, and someday soon, a cure.
For those of you in New York City, I invite you to come out and support on race day as I run by, but most of all (and for all no matter where you are) please please donate if you can! Also, please keep in mind that many employers will provide a match to your donation, so if you work for a company that does charitable matching be sure to apply for that match to maximize how much we can raise (if you are unsure about company match, it is best to check with your People Ops/HR department if you have one).
Please let me know if you have any questions at all (email, text or call me!), or care to donate some other way outside of this fundraising page (Venmo, etc). Just let me know I will make that happen.
Thank you, thank you all in advance for your support!
Much love,
Eric
