Walk for Lupus fundraiser held in Woodstock

Organizers gathered to register walkers and oversee event activities. (Ron Yuzark Photo)

Ron Yuzark, Echo Correspondent

Community members gathered at Southside Park in Woodstock for the fifteenth annual Walk for Lupus on June 7. The event is a key fundraising and awareness event in support of those living with lupus. Organized as part of Lupus Ontario’s provincial campaign, this year’s walk brought participants together to raise vital funds and increase public understanding of the autoimmune disease. The walk has a proud history, beginning over 23 years ago with a single walk and expanding into a province-wide initiative involving thousands. Collectively, it has raised over $1.5 million for lupus-related causes, including the Geoff Carr Research Fellowship, patient education and support services, and advocacy efforts for improved care. Jan Ropp, local organizer and point of contact for the Woodstock event, coordinated the day’s activities and welcomed participants of all ages. Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, leading to inflammation, pain, and potentially serious organ damage. Globally, over five million people live with lupus. It primarily affects women, with nine out of ten patients diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45. There is currently no cure.