Celebrities
Duane Martin, Jada Pinkett Smith, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mercedes Scelba, Tisha Campbell, Tomiko, Will Smith
Charities
Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation
Causes
At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths, Children, Family/Parent Support
October 1, 2007 by Crystal A. Johnson
With co-host Malcolm-Jamal Warner by her side, Maybelline model Tomiko promised to put “the fun in fundraiser” at a charity soirée to raise awareness and funds for Lupus research in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The mission was accomplished. The event, sponsored by the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation took on a 20’s Cotton Club atmosphere, complete with jazz band. Attendees dressed the part, helping to set a nostalgic tone amidst an event where the subject of Lupus was in the spotlight.
The cause to raise awareness about Lupus is very personal to Jada and Tomiko. In a serious tone, Jada explained that her high school friend, aunt and cousin all have been diagnosed with Lupus. For Tomiko, it is her sister that suffers from the disease. When asked what prompted her to create this event, Tomiko said, “I created this event out of the love for my sister.”
Tomiko is a role model for supporting this cause with passion, but was not the only model present; Mercedes Scelba from Season two of “America’s Next Top Model” was on hand to support the event. Mercedes has Lupus, and her condition was the focus of an episode of the show.
And where does Malcom-Jamal Warner fit in all of this? Malcom is close friends with Tomiko’s husband and has witnessed what Tomiko has gone through trying help her sister. Tomiko said the change in her sister was rapid, drastically debilitating her within a week.
Others in attendance to support the charity included actress Tisha Campbell and her husband, actor Duane Martin. General Hospital star Kent Masters King, “I Wanna Be A Soap Star” YVES, “Project Runway’’ reality stars Kayne and Jeffrey were also on hand, while recording artist Res gave a performance.
Lupus manifests itself so differently in people. Its consequences can include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, kidney failure and death. There have been no new drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for lupus in more than 40 years. No one is safe from lupus; it affects men and women, although women are more likely to acquire the disease. It tends to strike the range of women of color more commonly.
The commitment to raising Lupus awareness continues with a walk for Lupus on November 4th in Los Angeles. For more information contact Sherise Bright of Lupus Foundation of America, +1-213-742-9048, sherise@brightkarma.com.
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10 comments
I appreciate the fact that there are some celeb that are helping towards the cure for lupus. having being a lupus patient myself i know that it takes a lot of money for the cure. Thanks very much. I pray that we will one day have a cure for it.
I am surprised that there are people who actually care about helping those diagnosed with Lupus. I have suffered from Lupus for 4 yrs now. It is very tough for me, though my family try to help if possible. Since then I have graduated with my Master's Degree in Health Science in Clinical Research. My topic of focus is on Lupus. Now I am in a doctoral program that is very challenging, but I have to set goals to stay focus not just on the diseas, but also on living, I have 3 children ( 5yr old daughter, and two sons,7 and 9) that need me to take care of them, but I find them at times taking care of meinstead.
I was diagnosed as having lupus in November of 2006. Never in my life have I felt so plagued by anything or any body until I began to have symptoms of this condition. Unfortunately, there is so little known about the disease that I had to receive my diagnosis and initial treatments from the Mayo Clinic in Florida. My doctors in Virginia simply had a hard time giving me any substantive information about the sicknesses I had. As a result of it, I have had to change many facets of my life. The old "go-getter" in me has had to slow down BIG TIME! My income decreased substantially because upon diagnosis I was used to a "go-go-go" lifestyle. Ceasing everything took it's toll on my life. As a result of the changes, I have suffered several hardships along the way. Here recently, I've decided to change my lifestyle (moving closer to the Inland Empire, CA away from my east coast home), my career, my hobbies... even the way that I work out... but I refuse to give in to the ravages of the disease... I believe my setbacks are truly a divine set up.
I have consulted an alternative health doctor who has allowed me to kick the lack of energy that I once had. I've utilized her along with a team of medical doctors to control inflammation, and I have very little pain. My goal is to continually work on a way to treat this thing naturally (100%)... and to find out where this damned disease came from (and why it affects mostly African American women).
For more information, www.meetup.com is a great SoCal resource for people to meet. Liz Coopersmith is the organizer of this group. Please come join!! I would LOVE to hear other people's stories, and I would like to share some of my areas of success and failure with others. Also, http://www.saclupus.org is a great resource, too. This resource will send you updates about what is going on in the California area... it's more of a vehicle to spotlight the condition a little more politically... There is MORE to lupus than we know!
i think what you guys are doing to help people in South America is really cool.also can you guys come to my school and talk to us about some of your charity work.
belinda artis was my sub teacher adn she told us all about it!!!!she told us abou the people she meet and how she is doing research to help find a cure for it!!!!i thank all the people who are helping find a cure for this disease!!!!thank you for being so a great teacher wish we culd have you everyday!!!!keep on working towards finding the cure!!!!
sincerley,a thankful student of ms.Artris
I am living with a severe case of Lupus and antiphosolipid syndrome. I have been through a lot from losing two pregnancies, finally having my daughter and almost dying from it. I am only 29 yrs old and have have a stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, being on dialysis for over two years, having a transplant, and much more. I wish that there was a way for me to share my story with the world so that they know how this disease hurts peoples lives. I am afraid every day of my life because all that I have been through. I pray everyday that I get to see my daughter grow up, because she is the reason I fight and struggle with this everyday and still want to live. I appreciate all that everyone does to get information about this out there for people to know. Thank you all.
It all started about 14 years ago. My body started to feel weak and my memory began to decrease, and I began to have lots of seizures. I kept on going in and out of the doctors. As years passed the doctors finally diagnosed me with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. I asked them what lupus was, but they didn't have much information. So I took it upon myself to do research on it. At times I became depressed, lonely and very sad. I felt my life was over. I was looking forward to becoming a nurse, but it was impossible. Then, recently, I was diagnosed with something called fibromyalgia. It caused me to have so much pain. I couldn't move without feeling pain. That is the story of my life. I just want everyone to know how important being aware of lupus and fibromyalgia is. They are both autoimmune disorders which are life-threatening and incureable; unless we can do something about it.
Lupus has touched my life personally.
I am now 38 and have three boys ages 16, 14,and 7!
In 2003, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. It has affected various parts of my body. I have always kept a positive attitude and kept going. I get much of my strength from my children. I have been through a variety of treatments. Most of which did not work. I am now on chemotherapy.
I take numerous medications and I also take supplements, drink vitamin and protein shakes and walk every day. I am trying to prolong my life and take care of myself.
The reason I tell you this is because I have two choices. I can either be devastated and cry due to losing who I used to be and knowing there is no cure for what I have or I can fight to make things better. I am choosing to fight.
I am spreading awareness and walking in the Walk For Lupus 2008 May 17 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. I have contacted our local TV stations and newpapers in hopes that they will bring attention to Lupus awareness.
I want to thank every celebrity that has come out in some way to help bring awareness to Lupus. It may not help in my lifetime but it will help in the future.
Wishing you the best of everything always,
Allison
Can we ask questions here?
Maybe that means yes...
If African nations were to allow all of their unhealthy orphans to leave the terrible conditions that exist there, would there be enough families in the "South"(birthplace of the defunct civil rights movement)that could benefit and give these brilliant children an opportunity?
I've never been to Atlanta or anywere else so I don't know. Thank you!
I am looking to tell as many people as I can about my fight with Lupus as I can. I would like to find a website that Jada and or Will check to read about people going through this. I have written talk shows, and have done whatever I can think of to get the word out about Lupus. I have had it really hard and if anyone would like to hear my story please email me at maya7778@yahoo.com
I have had a kidney transplant, a heart attack, a stroke and some other things happen to me the last few years and I have only just turned 30 this July of 2008. Any questions, advice, or information, please just email me. thank you
Maria
about 1 year ago