Bringing greater attention to lupus is something each of us is committed to -- and can act on every day.

Last week, NFL stars Antonio Gates of the Los Angeles Chargers and Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders committed themselves to raising lupus awareness by wearing custom-designed cleats as part of the NFL’s 2017 My Cause, My Cleats campaign. This is the second year the NFL has staged the campaign, which gives players from across the league an opportunity to wear special cleats that express causes near and dear to their hearts.

Gates, an eight-time Pro Bowler, worked directly with the Lupus Foundation of America to design a pair of eye-catching purple cleats to raise awareness of the devastating impact of lupus and to further tell the story of his sister, Pam, who died from lupus three years ago. Mack, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, wore cleats to honor his Aunt who passed away from lupus.

Gates and Mack are also taking the extra step to raise funds for the fight against lupus by auctioning off their cleats with 100 percent of the proceeds designated to go to the Lupus Foundation of America to support lupus research. This is the second consecutive year that Mack will be donating all auction proceeds from his custom cleats to the Lupus Foundation of America!

You can bid on these custom lupus awareness cleats NOW at nflauction.nfl.com or by visiting the following links: 

Bid for Antonio Gates' awareness cleats (auction closes Dec. 29)

Bid for Khalil Mack's awareness cleats (auction closes Dec. 31)

Get a closer look at the lupus awareness cleats Gates and Mack are auctioning off.

Together, let’s continue to increase lupus awareness and support to accomplish a vision that we all share: a life free of lupus.