Tell Congress We Need Increased Federal Funding to Bridge the Gaps in Lupus Research, Awareness, and Education. Here's Why.

• It has been 51 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drug for lupus. Current therapies have unacceptable side effects that can be worse than the disease.
• Research has consistently shown that 80 percent of young women say they know little or nothing about lupus.
• According to surveys of people with lupus they experience symptoms for four years and visit three or more doctors before receiving an accurate diagnosis of lupus. Early diagnosis is critical to preventing the life-threatening consequences of the disease.

Here’s what you can do through Friday, March 19.

• Send an email, call, or write your Congressman or Senator. Share your personal story of how lupus has affected you, and ask them to support increased federal funding for lupus research, awareness, and health care provider education programs. Find your Senators and Representatives here, along with help for writing your letter or email.



• Raise awareness by sending an ecard. Raise awareness of lupus and ask friends and family to join you in speaking up on behalf of those affected by lupus by contacting their Members of Congress.



• Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter, or through your blog.



• Change your Facebook status. Below is suggested text.
  
  "YOUR NAME encourages family & friends to support the LFA’s Advocacy Day. Tell Congress to support funding for lupus research, awareness, and health care provider education programs. Visit http://www.capwiz.com/lfa to make your voice heard."


"YOUR NAME has made (his/her) voice heard on Capitol Hill for LFA’s 2010 Advocacy Day. I hope you have too. http://www.capwiz.com/lfa"


• Send a message on Twitter encouraging your friends and family to support LFA’s Advocacy Day. Below are some suggested "tweets." Also, you’ll want to use the following hashtag: #LFAAdvocacy.
  
  "Support #LFAAdvocacy Day. Tell Congress to support research, awareness, & education funding to bridge the gaps. http://www.capwiz.com/lfa"
  
  "Join me & call Congress & tell them to support #lupus research, awareness, & health provider education funding. http://www.capwiz.com/lfa"



• You can also leave a message for your Senators and Representatives on Facebook and Twitter. You can use http://tweetcongress.org/ to find your representatives on Twitter.



• Use your blog to tell your lupus story, and promote the importance of LFA's Advocacy Day. Please remember to include the link -- http://www.capwiz.com/lfa -- in your blog entry so that others reading your blog can also contact their Senators and Representatives.