Inaugural Lupus Awareness Walk/Run

By Bro. Terrance Kinard / Sigma Tau Chapter / El Paso, TX
On May 20, 2023, the brothers of Sigma Tau held their Inaugural Lupus Awareness Walk/Run. Bro. Marcus McCoy and Bro. Dr. Garry Kennebrew Jr. were respectively the Chairman and Co-Chairman for this event. The goal was to bring awareness to lupus and conduct physical exercise and fellowship. The route was a total of four miles and the dialogue that was shared is priceless. Bro. Dr. Kennebrew Jr. gave a brief overview of what lupus is and the effects it has on the body. Bro. Dr. Kennebrew also educated the group on signs of lupus and resources that can be helpful in terms of educating themselves. Bro. McCoy explained how lupus has affected him personally. Both his mother and sister have the disease and have been battling it for years. So, for him, this event had purpose and meaning.
Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. This disease affects African Americans at a significantly higher rate than any other race. Understanding that our health needs to be at the forefront of our priorities is vital. We must stop ignoring warnings and start actively investing in our health. Bro. McCoy states “We just want to bring awareness and stand in the gap when we can”. Below are some useful links about lupus. #Uplift
https://www.lupus.org/resources/what-is-lupus
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/symptoms-causes/syc-20365789
https://www.healthline.com/health/lupus/early-signs
https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/basics/symptoms.htm