Praise and Raise Lupus Gospel Concert benefits patients statewide

The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. will hold its 15th annual Praise and Raise Lupus Gospel Concert at 6 p.m. April 27 at Church of the Open Door, and Foundation President Jamesetta Smith said proceeds will benefit Lupus patients across the state.

The event, co-hosted by pastors Teddy Frye and Jon Byer, will be headlined by the Gospel Sons of Amory, Miss., a musical group made up entirely of Smith’s cousins and a Hot Springs favorite, she said. The event will include other musical acts, praise dancing and speakers.

There will be no admission, but an offering will be taken, she said, noting over $2,000 was donated at last year’s concert.

According to http://www.lupus.org, Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body: skin, joints and organs.

“Lupus is the kind of disease that’s cruel because you can’t plan anything — it’s unpredictable,” Smith said.

Smith was diagnosed with Lupus in 1986 when she was 44 years old. She said running the foundation is what gives her hope.

“I’m not supposed to be here. I believe God spared my life so I could do this,” she said.

Smith started the Arkansas chapter of the National Lupus Foundation in 1993 with her husband.

The foundation’s mission is “to provide patient educating advocacy and support to all affected by Lupus, increase public awareness of the debilitating disease, and help raise research dollars to find a better diagnosis, a

better treatment, and a cure.”

The foundation was cut from the national office’s funding in 2014, and it has been completely volunteer-run, depending on money donated at fundraising events, ever since.

Smith said she doesn’t worry about not getting paid to run the foundation because she needs the emotional support the foundation provides to her more.

The foundation provides support for Lupus patients with group meetings held every other month and by providing educational materials on Lupus.

“It’s important for Lupus patients to talk with other Lupus patients because they are the ones that really understand what they’re going through. They can encourage one another,” Smith said.

Other fundraisers the foundation hosts annually is a jazz concert, 5K race, talent show, golf tournament and Lupus Awareness Month Program during May.

The funds raised are used to pay rent for the main office’s space, employ a parttime office clerk and supply fact sheets and other educational materials given away at foundation events.

Smith said people should care about Lupus patients because the disease could attack them or a loved one just as easily.

According to lupus.org, 5 million people are affected by the disease around the world and there are 16,000 new cases of lupus reported annually.

“You get tired of hurting, you get tired of not being able to do things, and people think that you can function just like everyone else, but we can’t,” Smith said. “Our lives have to be modified, watched over and monitored by doctors.

“When diagnosed with Lupus, you ask yourself why? What have I done? And in reality you haven’t done anything to go through all this, but it is real. So we try to help people go through it.”