LUPUS UK is the only national registered charity supporting people with lupus and assisting those approaching diagnosis. A small donation can go a long way in helping us to support people with lupus. For more information, please visit: www.lupusuk.org.uk

The Virtual Dog Walk is an exciting new fundraising challenge for 2025!! The challenge involves stepping outside with your four-legged companions every day in March, walking any distance you can manage! Whether you walk 100 steps or 10,000, every step you take in makes a difference!

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system is dysfunctional and mistakenly identifies the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders. In people with lupus, the immune system creates autoantibodies to attack the body’s tissues. These form immune complexes which cause inflammation and damage – possibly affecting the organs and/or the joints in some lupus patients. Lupus disproportionately affects females and people from Black African, Caribbean, and Asian ancestries.

Lupus is an uncommon, complex, and poorly understood disease. As such, many healthcare professionals, including General Practitioners, may not recognise the early signs resulting in a delay to referral and diagnosis. During this time, active lupus can cause damage to the kidneys, skin, heart, lungs and/or brain which may be irreversible.

The two most common symptoms of lupus are joint/muscle aches and pains and extreme fatigue – almost 90% of lupus patients report experiencing fatigue which can often cause substantial impairments in quality of life and work disability. Other symptoms include: rashes, anaemia, light-sensitivity, headaches/migraines, hair loss, oral/nasal ulcers, brain fog, depression and anxiety. An increased risk of miscarriage is a complication of lupus. However, with close monitoring, many people with lupus now have successful pregnancies. It is important to note that there are many manifestations of lupus, and it is rare for two people to share the exact same experience.