Wishing you good luck!
Kathy A. Walters
Founder
http://www.LupusMCTD.com
http://www.MixedConnectiveTissueDisorders.com

This is Floyd Boykin Jr. and I am the coordinator of the Poets Against Lupus Benefit Concert. It’s very important that we start talking about Lupus and how it is affecting our community. This concert is very dear to me because I lost my mother to Lupus back in 1993 and I want to make sure that I tell as many people as possible about Lupus and direct them into the right places to get information about it. I am really thankful to the Missouri Chapter of the Lupus Foundation and all the work that they do. So please, come out on October 18th, 2008 and help us spread the word. A movement is started merely by the utterance of an idea, followed up with actions. Peace.

Floyd, that is quite a shame about your mother. Lupus is a fairly common autoimmune disease, but is it often fatal?

Also, are more poets welcome or is the schedule full? Will the poetry will be about diverse topics?

Hello Jane. Lupus was fatal in terms of my mother. That was when I first learned about Lupus back in 1993. Lupus can lead to a fatal ending. I do know several people who passed away from complications due to Lupus. But there are many people who are living very fulfilling lives while living with Lupus. It’s amazing to me, because just recently since I have been promoting this concert, I have come into contact with several people with lupus and they are extra-ordinary people. They are full of life. They are full of joy. One person told me that she was near death at one point, but now Lupus is in remission. She is retired. She is having fun. She is flirting with men. (lol) She is a very inspiring person. She will be speaking at the concert for a few minutes. I think people should experience her because she is living proof that your life doesn’t end with Lupus.

The poetry line up is set in stone, but I will need some poets that are willing to recite/or quote Lupus facts in between performances. Those people who are interested in participating in that way, please e-mail me at lupus@spokenvizions.com. Also, we ask people to tell as many people as possible about the concert. And if people just want to donate to the cause, I have set up a fundraising page through the Lupus Foundation Of America. Just visit firstgiving.com/spokenvizions and donate. The page is dedicated to my mother, Gloria H. Boykin. It goes directly to the LFA. Or if you want to support in terms of the tickets sales, log on to http://www.spokenvizions.com.

Also, we (spokenvizions.com) are glad to announce the brand new greeting card inspired by those living with Lupus. It’s called “LIFE”. It will be available for purchase at http://www.poeticbydesign.com on 09-14-2008. One dollar of each card sold will be donated to the Missouri Chapter of the Lupus Foundation.