Bellmore, NY - The Lupus Alliance of America LI/Q Affiliate has been helping those who have lupus in the Long Island/Queens area since 1955. Since its inception, the mission of the Lupus Alliance of LIQ has been to provide support and education to better the quality of life for people with lupus and their families, to promote awareness and understanding of lupus to others and to support research that will improve the diagnosis and treatment of lupus and ultimately discover its cause and cure.
As part of that mission, the Lupus Alliance offers support groups in several locations throughout Long Island and Queens to help those diagnosed with lupus learn how to cope with the chronic, often life-threatening disease. Groups meet once a month on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm - 9:00pm in various locations including Smithtown, Flushing and East Meadow. To attend one of these groups, please call the support group facilitator, Paula Goldstein at 516-802-3142 to register for free.
The Lupus Alliance also offers Education Day`s, four times a year, held at their office in Bellmore at 2255 Centre Avenue. These Education Day`s are designed to help those who have lupus understand their disease, learn coping skills and how to be their own best advocate, and to find out about the latest in research, lupus medicines and more. Interaction and the sharing of personal stories is always encouraged at these meetings
Anyone with lupus as well as family members of someone with lupus are invited to attend. Registration is required in advance and includes a light breakfast, handout materials and lunch. Fees are $10pp for members and $15pp for non-members. The dates for these Education Days will be held throughout the year on March 24th, June 23rd, September 22nd, and December 1st, from 9:30am until 4pm.
If you need someone to talk to but cannot attend a support group, or education day, the Alliance can still help through an innovative program called LupusLine; a free peer-to-peer counseling service available to anyone with lupus, 18 yrs or older. Counselors, made up of trained volunteers who have lupus; speak with callers on an ongoing basis about concerns related to their illness. If you would like to sign up for a LupusLine counselor please call 516-783-3370.
The Lupus Alliance is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with lupus as well as searching for a cure. If you have lupus or know someone who does, or you would like to register for a support group or education day, or speak to a LupusLine counselor please call 1-800-850-9000 or e-mail:info@lupusliqueens.org.