For one fortnight, Americans can bolster the Lupus Foundation of America’s crowdfunding campaign to “Cut It Out,” a concerted nationwide effort designed to stem the devastating effects of the autoimmune disease.
The 14-day time span is a rolling campaign with the premise of making small sacrifices, then donating the money saved from giving up various goods or services to the cause.
Participants are encouraged to forego a cup of coffee or movie date here and there, so that little by little, small savings can add up to create enough to make a difference during the event, timed at their convenience.
Lupus is a challenging condition for approximately 1.5 million U.S. residents, according to the Lupus Foundation, with those of African, Asian and Native American descent somewhat more likely to develop lupus than caucasians. Although lupus can occur in both men and women, 90 percent of those diagnosed with the disease are women.
The number of youngsters with the disease is estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 in the U.S. alone. Of all children diagnosed with lupus, approximately one-third are deemed to have mild cases.
The Lupus Foundation cited the instance of a 12-year-old named Amarissa Mauricio, who is limited from engaging in many regular activities. Mauricio struggles with daily functioning at the expense of caring for her dog, doing gymnastics and other routines in which most young girls can participate.
To combat this problem, the foundation asks that readers make a small sacrifice to help victims. Contributions go toward stem cell research that could pioneer solutions. Individuals can participate by visiting crowdrise.com/cut-it-out.
