Why I am Raising Money for the Lupus Foundation?

You may wonder why I have chosen to raise money for lupus through carp fishing. Some might assume that I have lupus or that a close family member does. I do not and no member of my family has the disease.

I first became aware of the disease because my wife's hairdresser had the disease. She continued to work as much as she could, but it was a struggle. She had a child to care for too, so not working wasn't an option.

Charles Kuralt died from complications of the disease. I have no personal connection to him, but I watch the CBS Sunday Morning program to this day. He was retired from CBS News at age 60 and died from complications developed from lupus at age 62.

Compared to some other diseases, lupus research is vastly underfunded. But as an autoimmune disease, its' affects can be devastating. I am thankful that I am healthy and that my family is healthy. I do not wish illness upon anyone. I could develop an illness tomorrow. It can happen to anyone.

I feel called to make a contribution; to give back. And that is why I have chosen to get involved with raising funds for the Lupus Foundation of America via this carp fishing blog.

From lupus.org:

In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

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