LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITY GUIDE
Join us throughout the month of May as we create the much-needed awareness for lupus. Share these Lupus Awareness Month Public Awareness Initiatives to help build awareness in your community!
For specific Lupus Awareness Month activities taking place in your province, please contact your provincial lupus organization https://www.lupuscanada.org/provincial-lupus-organizations/.
World Lupus Day
On May 10th, 2023 Lupus Canada will join others across the globe to recognize and celebrate World Lupus Day. World Lupus Day is sponsored by the World Lupus Federation and it serves to call attention to the impact that lupus has on people around the world. The annual observance focuses on the need for improved patient healthcare services, increased research into the causes of and cure for lupus, earlier diagnosis and treatment of lupus, and better epidemiological data on lupus globally.
World Lupus Day is under the direction of the World Lupus Federation, a coalition of lupus patient organizations from around the world, united to improve the quality of life for people affected by lupus. Through coordinated efforts of its global affiliates, the World Lupus Federation works to create greater awareness and understanding of lupus, provide education and services to people living with the disease, and advocate on their behalf. Lupus Canada is proud to be a partner in the effort to focus greater worldwide attention on this devastating disease. Efforts are underway to secure support for the proclamation by governments around the globe. On behalf of all Canadians impacted by lupus, we seek our government’s support in raising awareness for World Lupus Day. Learn more at https://worldlupusday.org/about.
World Lupus Day serves to rally lupus organizations and people affected by the disease around the world for a common purpose of bringing greater attention and resources to efforts to end the suffering caused by this disabling and potentially fatal autoimmune disease. Since 2004, lupus organizations around the globe have conducted activities on May 10 to raise awareness and educate the public about the symptoms and health effects of lupus. Together we can make lupus an international health priority and to ensure that people with lupus around the world are diagnosed and treated effectively.
Canada Illuminates in Purple for Lupus Awareness
Over 66 Canadian landmarks will be illuminated in purple for World Lupus Day on May 10th and Put on Purple Day on May 19th!
Lighting landmarks throughout Canada helps raise awareness for this debilitating disease. If you see a landmark illuminated in purple, please take a photo, share on social media and tag @LupusCanada. For the complete list of landmarks refer to the image below. Please see below the image for specific details regarding a some of the Landmark Illuminations.
*Please note that all efforts will be made to honour these illuminations listed; however, all the Canadian Landmark Managements reserve the right to adjust the lighting schedule as necessary without notice and this may result in: modifying the timing of the lighting, sharing the evening with another cause or rescheduling the date.
Reconciliation Bridge, Calgary, AB
The event is now live on the East Village Community Programming webpage.
Coquitlam’s special lighting features at Lafarge Lake and along Pinetree Way, Vancouver, BC
Special Light Feature Information https://www.coquitlam.ca/812/Special-Lighting-Features
3D Toronto Sign, Toronto, ON
Please keep in mind that although the Sign stays on throughout the day, the letters’ LEDs are not visible when hit with direct, bright sunlight. Thus, the LED colours are only visible from dusk until dawn, unless it is overcast. The 3D Leaf will NOT be included in the 3D Toronto Sign Commemorative Lighting Program. During Commemorative Lightings, the maple leaf will appear in either a neutral white, or red shade.
Please note: Although the request has been confirmed and scheduled, lightings are subject to change at the discretion of the City of Toronto to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.
CN Tower, Toronto, ON
Please note that lighting begins at sunset, however it won’t become fully visible until the sky darkens sufficiently approximately 30 minutes later.
A standard light show will run for 8 minutes at the top of every hour, followed by another light show on the half hour. The night lighting will be visible by webcam on the website https://www.cntower.ca/live-views
All efforts will be made to honour this lighting date; however, CN Tower management reserves the right to adjust the lighting schedule as necessary without notice.
The Falls, Niagara Falls, ON
The Falls will be illuminated Purple at 10:00 p.m. for a fifteen (15) minute duration. Please note that all Illumination times are approximate and subject to change according to light conditions.
Live cam link that you can share, so that families and friends can see the Falls illuminated https://www.earthcam.com/canada/niagarafalls/?cam=niagarafalls_str
Olympic Stadium and Montreal Tower, Montreal, Quebec
The Montreal Tower will be illuminated in purple on May 10, for World Lupus Day. The lights are visible from 6.30 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next day.
World Lupus Day Proclamations
By having the provinces proclaim May 10th as World Lupus Day in their legislature it demonstrates their support by recognizing this historic day, unites the people across the country who are affected by this disease, and brings greater attention to the lack of resources and unmet needs of those living with lupus.
Arthritis Talks: Let’s Talk Lupus Webinar
On May 17, 2023 the Arthritis Society Canada in partnership with Lupus Canada hosted Arthritis Talks: Let’s Talk Lupus, a webinar which discussed the many complexities of lupus to help you better understand the disease. Lupus expert, Dr. Christine Peschken, touched on topics such as:
• Early signs of lupus, symptoms and risk factors
• How lupus is diagnosed
• What makes it so complex and why it is different than other forms of inflammatory arthritis
• Advancements in lupus research and treatment
Speaker
Dr. Christine Peschken who is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. She is the current Division Head for the Division of Rheumatology, as well as acting Division Head for the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba.
She established the University of Manitoba Lupus clinic at the health sciences Centre in Winnipeg in 2002. She received her medical degree (with distinction) from the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, and trained in General internal medicine and rheumatology at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. She completed a Master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at McGill University and the University of British Columbia prior to joining the faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba in 1999.
Dr. Peschken is an established investigator in outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus, with special emphasis on and expertise in health disparities in vulnerable populations with lupus. She is a member of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC), and is the chair of Canadian network for improved outcomes of systemic lupus erythematosus (CaNIOS).
A video recording of the webinar is available below for viewing.
Put On Purple Day
Show your support in finding a cure and help those living with lupus by wearing purple on May 19th! Wear purple to honor those living with lupus, remember those lost to this disease, and to support the progress we as a community are making to one day create a “Life Without Lupus”. We urge you to tell your families, friends, employers, physicians, and local community about Put On Purple Day to get the word out and build excitement.
Share your photos or videos on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and tag @LupusCanada or email them to info@lupuscanada.org.
Put On Purple Day Contest
Lupus Canada is excited to announce the Put on Purple For Lupus Contest where one Canadian can win a “Life Without Lupus” t-shirt. As we approach Lupus Awareness Month, we invite you to join Lupus Canada in this contest on May 19th 2023 to create awareness for #lupus🦋. Tell your friends and family about this contest and together let’s support those impacted by lupus.
How can you participate?
🦋 Wear purple clothes, accessories, paint your nails purple, dye your hair purple.
🦋 Send us pictures of your Put On Purple outfits to be featured on our social media platforms to info@lupuscanada.org or by tagging us on social media on May 19th 2023.
🦋 On May 20th 2023 Lupus Canada will select the top 4 contestants and post on our Instagram Story for our followers to vote on the most creative Put On Purple Day Outfit.
Read the contest rules below to see how you can enter and win a “Life Without Lupus” t-shirt.
🦋 This contest begins on Friday May 19th 2023 at 12:00 am until Friday May 19th 2023 at 11:59 pm (EST).
🦋 Must be a Canadian resident.
🦋 Once the winner is selected, they will have 24 hours to reply or an alternative winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced on Tuesday May 23rd at 12:00 pm (EST).
The Disease Of A Thousand Faces Campaign
Lupus Canada is continuing to gather pictures of Canadians living with lupus for our Disease Of A Thousand Faces Campaign! Lupus Canada is hoping to gather 1,000 pictures of lupus warriors around the world by the end of the year. Share this campaign with your friends and through social media and help us reach our goal. Lupus is known as the “Disease of a Thousand Faces” due to its wide-ranging symptoms and ability to mimic other diseases.
To submit your photo or for more information visit https://www.lupuscanada.org/diseaseof1000faces/.
Let’s Talk Lupus with Wendy
Lupus Canada is excited to embark on our collaboration with Wendy Issa. Visit Lupus Canada’s Instagram and Facebook every Tuesday as Wendy shares information and her journey in the hopes that she can help and create a difference for the lupus community.
“Hi! I am so thrilled and honoured to create this collaboration with Lupus Canada. I am a Yoga Teacher, Breathwork Coach, and a Lupus Warrior. I am originally from Ecuador and I have called Canada my home for over 10 years now. This collaboration has been a dream of mine for such a long time, I wanted to share with those who are Lupus Warriors about my journey with lupus, how it started, how I got into remission, and how is going; the tools that have helped me to cope with some symptoms and resources that have supported me through this huge chapter of my life.
A bit about myself, I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 15 years old (now soon to be 34!). I studied Internal Business Development with a Minor in Marketing at the University as well as a Technician in International Cuisine. However, as life goes by and many things in between in 2012 I took my first Yoga Teacher Training then many more, and further down the line I discovered Somatic Breathwork. After a few years of teaching and practising, I created my own Breathwork approach and coaching style, Energy Breathwork.
How is that connected with lupus and with the collaboration with Lupus Canada?
Due to the ups and downs of my own journey with lupus and learning about lupus, the symptoms, the treatments (back in the days not many), then re-learning again when a new symptom happened, befriending my body, etc. The tools that I used are based on practising Wellness and Mindfulness. Those tools and resources are going to be a big component of Let’s Talk Lupus with Wendy #letstalklupuswithwendy.
This collaboration is very close to my heart and if I can somehow help another Lupus Warrior make their toll a bit lighter or understood, then, my mission is done.” – Wendy Issa
Accessible Movement Videos with Heather Coates
Teaching since 2011, Heather Coates offers functional and accessible movement classes. Through breathwork, restorative yoga and slow flow classes she offers a retreat from the busyness of the outside world and holds space to dive inward, get curious and land in the present moment.
Breathwork & Relaxation
In this short practice, you will take time to settle in your body and surrounding space and will be guided through two breath patterns; balanced breathing and box breathing. Please have a comfortable space to sit either on a chair or the floor.
Whether you are a lupus patient, caregiver or friend to the community these accessible practices can be the difference between feeling tightly wound and reactive vs. malleable and responsive. It’s a great place to start paying attention to your breath and how it directly correlates to your own day to day well-being.
Restorative Yoga – For A Home Practice (to be released)
This practice will guide you through how to set up a Restorative Yoga Home Practice. Once reviewed you can extend this practice, add music (or not!) and settle in for some sweet comfort. Restorative yoga can feel like a deep dive into experiencing a parasympathetic nervous system response; a softening, a letting go, a settling – deep rest.
Heather will make suggestions on what you can use around the house as a substitute for classical yoga props. For this practice you will need: a yoga mat or comfortable space to lie down, a yoga bolster or a large & firm pillow, a yoga block or a hard cover book, an eye pillow or something to cover your eyes like a washcloth, a blanket and two couch cushions or small pillows.
Provincial Lupus Organizations Lupus Awareness Initiatives
For specific Lupus Awareness Month activities taking place in your province, please contact your provincial lupus organization https://www.lupuscanada.org/provincial-lupus-organizations/.