The Woodstock Walk for Lupus aims to raise money and awareness for a serious disease.
WOODSTOCK - Jan Ropp is running the 6th annual Lupus walk at South Side park.
Ropp, the local coordinator for the Woodstock Walk for Lupus has experienced the disease on a daily basis since she was diagnosed at the age of 21.
Lupus is a inflammatory autoimmune disease that occurs when your body's immune systems attacks your cells and tissues.
Ropp explains what it is like to live with the disease.
"It almost feels like your bones are broken, it hurts so bad. I can't stand to have really heavy blankets on when I'm flaring. It's hard to describe that, but everything just hurts."
Ropp says this walk is not only about raising funds for Lupus Ontario but more importantly it is about generating awareness about the disease.
"When I went to the medical books and looked it up, the first line was, 'can be fatal.' Back then you had a 10-year life expectancy. It was very scary. Now, just getting the word out is helping people. I didn't even know where to turn. I thought I was dying."
The disease can cause serious pain, fatigue, and rashes.
It also causes unexpected flare-ups which is when the disease attacks your organs and affects you the most.
Ropp says remission is when she feels healthy and strong, but she says everyone has different experiences.
"It is called the face of 1000 diseases because it changes for everyone. It's not always the same symptoms. "
Ropp's goal for the walk is to raise $5,000.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 11th at Southside Park.
Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 11 a.m.
Go to walkforlupusontario.org to register or donate.
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