D.C. Lupus Chapter Merges to Serve Maryland and Most of Virginia

WASHINGTON, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Foundation of America Greater Washington Chapter (LFAGW) has merged with Lupus Mid-Atlantic to serve the entire District of Columbia, Maryland, Northern and Central Virginia regions -- encompassing most of the tri-state area. Renamed the Lupus Foundation of America DC/MD/VA Chapter, Inc., services will include many support groups, two symposia, and free workshops and teleconferences. Potential patients served will increase to over 80,000 people with lupus, a chronic, autoimmune disease with no known cure that can damage any part of the body including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and the brain.

"Especially in our current health care climate, widening our free services under our Chapter's umbrella will help streamline our essential resources to serve more lupus patients," said Penny Fletcher, LFA-DC/MD/VA Chapter's president and CEO.

Proceeds from the Chapter's three, annual Walks in Washington (held April 17 with record -breaking donations of $250,000+), Baltimore (September 25), and Richmond (October 30) will help make the Chapter's many free services available to more lupus patients.

"We are so pleased to be a part of LFA-DC/MD/VA," said Coleen Bertsch, R.N., board chair of Lupus Mid-Atlantic who, along with several other LM-A board members will now serve on the board of the newly merged organization. "It is the fulfillment of a dream to know that so many lupus patients and families will benefit from this merger."

The Chapter's many free support and services include:

• Ongoing workshops
• Regular support groups including an online group and a Facebook page
• Two annual Symposia (Baltimore and Washington) offering the latest on treatment and research
• Teleconferences on many lupus topics – Living with Lupus also in Spanish
• A new Patient Navigation Program
• Telephone support
• A weekly e-newsletter  
• Research support

"As awareness of lupus continues to grow, we are seeing an increased demand for LFA's services," said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. "This merger supports the LFA's efforts to continue to expand and strengthen its national network of chapters and offices across the country in order to effectively provide support services, and broaden research support among all people impacted by lupus."

Website: http://www.lupusgw.org

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America DC/MD/VA Chapter, Inc.