Thank you for visiting my fundraising page for the 16th Annual Walk-Along for Lupus!

Niko was diagnosed with Lupus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome as a child.  In January of 2007, Niko was hospitalized; he spent the next 14 months in the hospital minus a few weeks.  Niko had two below the knee amputations within four weeks of each other.  Niko underwent numerous chemotherapy treatments, the treatment of a disease by chemicals that kills cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer.  Along with daily plasmapheresis which is the removal, treatment and return of blood plasma from the blood circulation,  he also received high doses of IV Anticoagulation medications being administered around the clock along with 33 pills a day.  Within a few months, the disease attacked Niko's liver, at this point Niko's liver enzymes where so high, the doctors told us we need nothing short of a miracle within hours.  Niko later spent 6 days sedated on a ventilator, a machine designed to move breathable air into and out of the lungs for patients who are physically unable to breath.   Two weeks later,  a clot formed that shot to numerous parts of his brain causing him to have multiple strokes. 

 Niko's liver functions at 100%, he is able to breath on his own, he has fully recovered from the strokes and is making a huge effort to walk like he did just two years ago.  Niko and other fellow Lupus patients need new drugs and treatments for this horrible disease.

This is the longest running, and only Lupus Walk in New York that raises funds both for research as well as to help support the individual with lupus by providing financial, supportive, and educational programs.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. To learn more about Lupus, the Lupus Alliance and the Walk-Along for lupus you can visit www.lupusliqueens.org.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! You can also tweet my page on Twitter, share it on facebook, post it as a bulletin on myspace, or post it on Digg.com. Even if you cant donate, please take a moment to pass this page on to everyone you know and help us spread the word about lupus and the Walk-Along for lupus. The more people who know, the more people we can help!

It has been more than 50 years since a new drug has been approved for lupus! Your support of the 16th Annual Walk-Along for Lupus will help us all make sure that not another years goes by without progress.

Thank You!!