Third annual Lupus Walk set for Saturday

The third annual Lupus Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Old City Park.

Organized by the Lupus Flare Fighters, this year’s event will feature a bouncy house, face painting, sack races and kickball. Hot dogs and chips will be served as well. Participants will walk around the track at Old City Park to raise awareness for lupus.

“As far as the walk goes, I usually just tell people to walk as much as they like, or as much as they can,” said Lupus Flare Fighter Chandra Hicks.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the tissue and organs. The condition is treatable but incurable. The Flare Fighters call themselves that in reference to lupus flares, which are a recurrance or strengthening of lupus symptoms.

“A flare is when lupus is active, so we fight through this,” Hicks said to a News-Times reporter before last year’s event.

This year’s walk will be dedicated to Eboni Snowden, a fellow Flare Fighter who passed away in February.

“We’re going to do a little memorial for her as well,” Hicks said.

El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash will read a proclamation at the event declaring the month of May Lupus Awareness Month.

The event is free to participate in. Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

“We’re just trying to raise awareness. … I am excited,”

Hicks said.

For more information, contact Chandra Hicks at lupusflarefighters@gmail.com.