Local Church Celebrates 119th Anniversary by Giving Back

POMONA, Calif. - Feb. 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Stand Against Lupus | Walk 4 Health, a three mile awareness and fund raiser is slated for Saturday, March 7th, 2015, in Pomona, California. Walkers will leave the current home of Primm Tabernacle AME Church, 1938 S. Towne Avenue and walk to Primm’s original church site at 10th and Thomas and back. A free community health fair will be presented on campus at Primm during and after the walk offering information on various health and wellness issues.

“Primm feels a responsibility to serve the needs of the community, spiritually and physically,” Primm’s Pastor Betty Hanna-Witherspoon, D. Min. explains. “We did not want our anniversary celebration to be just about us.  As we asked ourselves how we could be of service to others we found that educating the community about this illness called Lupus fit right in with the mission of our church.  Lupus affects members of our families, friends, and community.  It has not received as much attention as some other diseases.  We count it a blessing that we are able to participate in the education of the community about lupus through our Walk and Health Fair.” With that goal in mind Primm is seeking the collaboration of the community to raise awareness for Lupus.

Although Lupus is no respecter of persons affecting the young and old, male and female, of all nationalities, it is most predominantly diagnosed in females aged 14 - 44. Because it’s symptoms often “mimic” those of other diseases it is often mis-diagnosed. And, because most survivors with Lupus don’t “look sick” it is often over looked. These and other characteristics of Lupus are all to familiar to Kimberly Dansby, founder of The Purple Rose Foundation, a foundation dedicated to offering support to survivors of and  raising the awareness of Lupus.

“One of the biggest hurdles is the fatigue, Dansby says.” “Most people with Lupus look fine physically but feel terrible and don't show outward symptoms so people often do not believe that they are sick.” At the close of the walk she will be speaking to the participants and health fair attendees about Lupus and raising public awareness of the disease. “We would like for people to be aware about Lupus and what it is so that if they have symptoms they can catch them early.”

Registration for the walk can be done online at www.StandAgainstLupus.com. The community is encouraged to register as individuals or form teams. Registered walkers can also be supported by pledges and every walker receives a t-shirt with registration. Jeni Watanabe of The Body Division in Rancho Cucamonga will lead the participants in a warm-up before the walk begins. Awards will be given following the walk to recognize walkers with the largest team and the individual and team with the most pledges collected.

The health fair which will open during registration and remain open until noon is free and open to the public. The community is encouraged to attend to gain insight into health and wellness issues that effect the wide spectrum of ages and nationalities that inhabit our neighborhoods.

For more information, call the Primm Tabernacle AME Church office at (909) 627-0818.