Just a month after announcing its first-ever national "Autoimmune Walk: Linking Together for a Cure" campaign, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today that it has surpassed its first $20,000 fundraising milestone.
Actress Kellie Martin, AARDA's Autoimmune Walk Ambassador, is urging the 50 million Americans who suffer from autoimmune disease, their families and friends to join her as she, her family, and her friends participate in the walks. AARDA's goal is to raise $200,000 to support critical research funding aimed at solving the underlying immune issues that link all autoimmune disorders.
"Autoimmune disease affected my family in a terrible way when I lost my sister and best friend, Heather, to lupus in 1998," explains Kellie. "Since Heather's death, I have worked with AARDA to raise awareness of autoimmune diseases. Now I have the opportunity to invite others who have been affected to join the fight - and walk."
The Autoimmune Walks are being conducted "virtually" and locally in three U.S. cities. A virtual walk can be done by anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time that is convenient. The three local walks are scheduled for Metro Washington, D.C. (May 19), Metro Chicago (June 2) and New York Tristate (June 24).
"Autoimmune diseases run in families and they have a common thread that links them all together," says Kellie. "This is an incredible opportunity for families touched by these diseases to 'link together' in support of autoimmune disease research and patient services."
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