Autumn Newsletter

It is officially autumn and I don’t know about you but I cannot believe we are almost half way through October already!  The LFNC had a busy summer- with some Lupus Health Conferences, our 30th Annual Outrun Lupus 5K and welcoming new Board Members!  We are finishing out 2024 with 3 more Lupus Health Conferences, including one in Spanish, this Saturday.  Read all about it below!

Recap: Summer Events

Just to catch you up on our summer happenings- in July we had the honor of hearing from lupus warrior Emmitt Henderson III as he told us his Lupus Nephritis journey and how to take care of your kidneys.  He was followed by another wonderful lupus patient, Setareh Banisadr who discussed how to eat healthy for your kidneys.  We also welcomed back Pharmacists, Drs. Benjamin Hinton and Osa Edogun.  They covered the most recent and upcoming lupus medications and answered many questions.  All of these videos are on our website for on demand viewing.  
We also celebrated our 30th Annual Outrun Lupus 5K on Sept. 21st.  This is always a fun community event and we were thrilled to have so many of you join us in person. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated and helped us raise lupus awareness and $40,000!   If you missed the event , be sure to watch our 2024 Outrun Lupus Honoree's speech to hear Giuliana's words of wisdom.  Patients like Giuliana are why we at the Lupus Foundation of Northern California are here and passionate about our free patient programs.   It is not too late to donate and help us continue our mission of Improving Lives Impacted by Lupus. 
 You can watch our 2024 Honoree’s speech, look at the great photos from the event and you can still donate!  Go to Outrunlupus.org. 

What’s Coming Up?!

Spanish Lupus Health Conference

Our schedule is busy this Fall!  If you or someone you know is a Spanish speaker be sure to share our Spanish Language Lupus Health Conference on Oct. 12th.  This will be a free, virtual conference covering “Lupus & Mental Health”  followed by “Establishing a support network: Tools and tips for lupus patients”.

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Holiday Lupus Health Conference
We are happy to welcome back 2 of our favorite speakers for our pre-holiday Lupus Conference on November 9th.  Sarah Goozee, PhD, and Setareh Banisadr will be discussing “Managing Stress during the Holidays” and “Healthy Food for the Holidays”. Registration is open now for this free, virtual event. 

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Special Lupus Health Conference
We are very excited to announce that we have teamed up with Lupus Of Southern California for our final Lupus Health Conference of 2024.  Together we will be hosting a very special Conference with Dr. Amrie Grammer, founder of AMPEL Biosolutions and Dr. Martin Schneider, of Stanford University.  They will be presenting a brief presentation each discussing a “New Test for lupus patients” and “The Value of your Health Data” they will each have an open Q&A session. 

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Lupus Health Conferences Registration Here

Lupus Support Groups

Our Support Groups are continuing to meet virtually with a couple testing out meeting in person again!  We know that many lupus patients are eager to see each other and have that in person connection and we are excited to have Support Group Leaders who are willing to be there for patients! 
The Sacramento Support Group is testing out a Hybrid Model, so be sure to check out where they are meeting on our website. 
The Auburn Support Group is back to meeting in person!  If you live in the Auburn area you can join them on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 10 am- 12 pm, IN PERSON at Missions Coffee in Auburn.
 You can find all of our Support Groups here. 

Meet our New Board Members!

We would like to introduce you to our newest Board Members,  Bill Rice (Treasurer) and Morrison Bruce.  Bill Rice is our newest board member taking on the role of Treasurer, here is a bit about him, in his own words. “I am a finance professional with a background in treasury management and corporate real estate. I bring a wealth of experience to my role as Treasurer for the Lupus Foundation of Northern California.  I hold both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Finance, and currently manage the CapEx project portfolio for a multinational tech firm, focusing on strategic capital allocation and process improvements.  My career has spanned industries including energy and computer storage, with expertise in foreign exchange risk management, cash forecasting, and investment policy compliance. I have previously overseen a $3 billion cash portfolio and served as a senior treasury consultant for multinational companies, driving process improvements in treasury operations.
A proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where I specialized in satellite communications, I deeply value integrity, service before self, and excellence in every task. My treasury experience extends beyond my professional career; I have served as Treasurer for various nonprofits, including a local PTA and a career technical education foundation, managing operations and compliance with a focus on transparency and impact.
I am committed to applying my financial expertise and systems-oriented perspective to help the Lupus Foundation of Northern California achieve its mission of improving the quality of life for those living with lupus. As a volunteer, I aim to ensure the foundation’s financial health and position it for long-term success.
In my free time, I enjoy volunteering as a river guide with Environmental Travel Companions, running, cycling, and cooking with friends. I reside in Placerville, CA, with strong roots in San Jose, CA.”

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We are also excited to welcome Morrigan Bruce to our Board. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for a local non-profit organization providing non-medical cancer support services to individuals and families in the Bay Area. Her personal experience of living with a chronic illness informs her personal and professional interests, guiding both her career focus and her educational pursuits. Throughout her non-profit career, Morrigan has supported clients seeking mental health services, crisis care, substance use disorder treatment, and medical care for acute and chronic health concerns. Morrigan currently holds an MPA with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management and is pursuing a master’s degree in Disability Studies.   
Welcome Bill and Morrigan!

Thank you Jay Remley for your dedication to the LFNC
The Lupus Foundation of Northern California announces that its longtime board member, Jay Remley, has resigned from the board. Jay is a passionate advocate for lupus warriors and served on LFNC’s board of directors from 2007 to 2024, including as its Chairman. Under Jay’s leadership LFNC significantly expanded its programs and digital presence. The LFNC team will miss Jay’s creativity and vision and wish him the best.

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Last Thoughts

As we move into the last quarter of 2024 we want to take a moment to thank you all for your support.  We are a small non-profit with a big mission and without your support, we could not continue our mission.  In late Fall we will reach out to you again to introduce you to our 2025 Face of Lupus.   You will have a chance to hear their story at our 10th Annual Purple Ribbon Awards on Saturday, March 15, 2025, which we have already begun planning!  More details will be coming soon- and we hope you can join us to celebrate this incredible evening. 

We are also trying to find some fun and unique ways in which you can support us- with the holidays coming up we will make your shopping a little bit easier and help support us at the same time!!  So if you have a sweet tooth (or know someone who does) or like jewelry we are going to have something for everyone! 
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We hope you have enjoyed reading this quarters Newsletter. If you were unable to attend our 30th Annual Outrun Lupus 5K this summer, we hope you will consider making a donation, perhaps even becoming a recurring donor. No matter the size, donations help us continue to offer our free Patient Programs and Services.   As always, feel free to share this newsletter with friends or family.  And if you aren't already, make sure you follow us on social media!  Thank you!