Summer Appeal 2025 | Support Lupus Research in Canada
Lupus research in Canada is transforming lives — and progress is possible… thanks to you!
There’s something magical about the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
Before a butterfly spreads its wings, it spends days — sometimes weeks — waiting. Inside the cocoon, everything changes slowly, silently, and out of sight. That’s how it’s felt on the journey to improve lupus care in Canada. But at Lupus 2025, the 16th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,
I saw signs that we are nearing a breakthrough — and it’s thanks to the persistence of people like you.
The Butterfly of Change: Progress in Lupus Research in Canada
At Lupus 2025, researchers, clinicians, and — for the first time — patients gathered to share progress, insights, and vision for the future. Participating in those sessions, I felt something shift. Both in science and in spirit. The global lupus community felt unified in its purpose: to advance research, accelerate treatments, and improve care.
With your support, Lupus Canada was there representing Canada on a global stage — sharing ideas, collaborating with patient groups and researchers from around the world, and gathering new resources to bring back to the Canadian community.
It was an inspiring experience –– but arriving at this moment didn’t happen overnight.
When I first joined Lupus Canada over sixteen years ago, no biologics were available for lupus in Canada. In 2011, Benlysta changed that. Then in 2022, Saphnelo arrived –– another breakthrough. And now, more change is coming.
Pharmaceutical companies around the world are taking interest. More clinical trials are underway. And more patient voices are shaping the research agenda than ever before.
The science is shifting. The momentum is real. But progress can’t survive on its own — it needs people willing to protect it, fuel it, and believe in what’s possible.
We need support to see it through. Your donation to Lupus Canada helps push treatments forward, amplify patient voices, and give people living with lupus the tools and care they need to thrive. With your help, what’s been slowly changing for years can fully take flight.
Why Your Support Matters
Because this moment — this vital stage in the metamorphosis of lupus care — needs nurturing. Your gift today helps keep this momentum alive. It allows us to continue to:
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Fund life-changing research and advocate for a $5 million federal investment in lupus-specific studies
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Support young people with lupus through scholarships and education resources
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Fight for faster, more equitable access to the treatments that already exist
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Share essential tools — like pregnancy and medication guidance — for those navigating lupus in real life
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Represent Canada on the global stage, so we don’t miss a single opportunity to move forward
Butterflies don’t emerge overnight. And neither do medical breakthroughs or policy change. But with your support, we’re making sure they’re not just possible — they’re inevitable.
Victoria’s Story: Strength and Transformation
I’m sharing this on behalf of Jamie Tees, whose daughter Victoria has shown extraordinary strength in the face of lupus and was featured in our 2023 holiday appeal.
Diagnosed at 20, Victoria faced intense flare-ups, months in and out of hospital, and a medication regimen that taxed both body and spirit. Then, two years ago, lupus claimed her kidneys.
Since then, Victoria has endured grueling dialysis treatments multiple times each week. But she never let lupus define her. She finished her university degree online — graduating with honours. She applied to Teachers College — and got in. And this August, she’ll receive a kidney transplant from her father.
Throughout Victoria’s journey, Lupus Canada has been a steady presence. Jamie saw what it
meant when Victoria received one of their national scholarships — not just the financial relief, but the affirmation that her daughter’s determination was seen, recognized, and celebrated. The team checked in often, shared updates, and made sure Victoria knew she wasn’t alone.
But we couldn’t support the Tees family without you. This inspiring story is just one example of how your gift transforms lives. Because of supporters like you, we don’t just witness these transformations — we help make them possible.
Join Us: Carry Change Forward
And we’re not stopping. At the conference, we interviewed experts and advocates who will help shape the next wave of our efforts. We’re pushing hard for federal research investment. We’re expanding our awareness campaigns. And we’re continuing to build a national network that listens to patients and act on their needs.
We may be a small team, but we are determined –– your donation today is how we keep going –– and rising. If you would, please consider becoming a monthly donor. Even $15 a month helps us plan, grow, and keep this metamorphosis moving forward.
The butterfly reminds us: transformation takes time — but it also takes belief. With your support, we can carry this change forward and help more people with lupus like Victoria, have the future they so deeply deserve.
With gratitude,
Leanne Mielczarek,
Chief Executive Officer Lupus Canada
P.S. Change is here but like all butterflies, needs support to grow. Please give generously today –– and help us carry this transformation forward.
