Members of Congress received more than 2500 emails, messages, and stories from lupus advocates across the country during the Lupus Foundation of America's Thirteenth Annual Advocacy Day held February 28-March 1, 2011. More than 200 individuals met in person with their Congressional Representatives and staff on Capitol Hill, and countless others called, wrote letters, or helped spread the word online through Facebook and Twitter, to raise awareness about the need for increased federal funding for lupus research, education, and awareness programs.
During the first day of the action-packed program, Lupus Advocacy Day attendees were armed with information on how to educate their elected officials about lupus, and why federal support is critical to the biomedical research effort on lupus and improving the quality of life of those living with the disease. In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever that lupus advocates continue to bring to the forefront the needs of the 1.5 million Americans living with lupus and their family members. On the second day, lupus advocates put their purple on and united on Capitol Hill to meet with their Members of Congress.
Lupus advocates also honored Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Representative Bill Young (R-FL-10) with the prestigious Distinguished Leadership Award. Senator McCaskill was honored for her friendship with the Lupus Foundation of America and her dedicated work to health care reform. Representative Young was honored for his dedication to biomedical research.
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