Mission Statement
Lupus Ontario’s mission is to provide vital support, education, awareness, advocacy and research through the fundraising efforts of our staff and volunteer community to help those with lupus live longer, healthier and better lives.
Our Vision
Life Without Lupus
Lupus Ontario is the largest provincial voluntary organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with lupus.
We support the lupus community by living out our mission through these pillars:
• SUPPORT: We provide 8 interactive monthly support groups for lupus patients throughout Ontario. Facilitators guide the meetings based on specific themes or key discussion topics.
• EDUCATION: We provide education through our monthly newsletters, webinars, podcasts, and an annual Lupus Symposium.
• AWARENESS: We use our social media, website, and monthly newsletter to create awareness on lupus. In addition, we support Lupus Awareness Month in May, by reaching out to media with our Awareness Media Kit, and securing numerous Ontario landmarks to illuminate in purple on Lupus Awareness Day (May 10).
• ADVOCACY: Working with our Medical Advisory Board and other partners, we support several advocacy initiatives annually. Recent initiatives include advocating for the approval of new lupus biologic medications under OHIP, and vaccine coverage for immunocompromised individuals. Previous efforts resulted in the passing of Bill 112 providing official recognition of World Lupus Day on May 10th by the Province of Ontario.
• RESEARCH: We provide funding to the Geoff Carr Lupus Research Fellowship, The Honey Agar Fellowship for High-Risk Pregnancy in Rheumatic Diseases and 6 accredited lupus clinics in Ontario.
• EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS:
WALK for Lupus Ontario – This annual event takes place from May to September. We facilitate community members throughout the province to take part and organize walks across Ontario.
Research Campaign – We have an annual campaign from October to January in which we raise money to fund our research initiatives such as the Geoff Carr Lupus Research Fellowship and Clinic funding.
Lupus Ontario is thankful to all the donors and volunteers who support our mission.
Our History
Lupus Ontario arose from a need for support, education and awareness. This gap was filled in 1978 by a dedicated group of patients. Lupus Ontario is a volunteer organization that started as the Ontario Lupus Association, incorporated provincially in 1998 and amalgamated with the Hamilton Lupus Society in 2004. Honey Agar was a founding member and our visionary first president whose leadership started Lupus Ontario. The first Lupus Conference was held in 1983 to bring support, education and awareness.
Lupus Ontario has raised more than $4.8 million in the past 10 years. Our first Walk A Block was held in 2002 and has become the province wide Walk for Lupus. The Walk for Lupus is held every spring to raise funds to support those living with lupus. Lupus Ontario has been providing crucial funding for Ontario Lupus Hospital Clinics in Ontario since 1987.
The Geoff Carr Fellowship has been awarded since it’s inception in 1990. This is a unique bursary given to a medical professional to study lupus for a year in an Ontario Lupus Hospital Clinic. We have funded research and education for over 25 medical fellows. It is the only fellowship of it’s kind in North America and key to funding medical breakthroughs in Lupus.
In 1987, Lupus Ontario partnered with the Toronto Western Hospital Lupus Clinic to raise the funds needed to establish the first Canadian Lupus Databank. Over the years, the Databank has provided the data required to conduct hundreds of research projects aimed at better management of the disease.
Lupus Ontario continues to fund hospital clinics, education materials and symposiums, increase awareness through media and speaking engagements, research through the Lupus Ontario Geoff Carr Research Fellowship and to pay for support staff and materials. We strive to support those living with lupus and continue our work towards a Life without Lupus.
Lupus Ontario is thankful to all of our donors and volunteers who support our mission.