What We Do

Our Mission

Lupus Kids was founded in June 2020. There are over 10,000 children and teens with Lupus in the United States and many more with other rheumatic and auto-immune disease. Lupus strikes particularly hard in girls and young women and in Black, Latinx, and Native communities. It often remains undiagnosed for years. Without access to adequate medical care and educational materials and with few available doctors, kids all over the U.S. and their families often struggle to get the help they need. As a non-profit whose mission is to provide outreach, education, and community to these children, particularly those in New Mexico, and raise awareness, Lupus Kids fills a need and creates hope where before there was none. Lupus Kids takes an optimistic approach to help and connect kids while knowing that we will continue our work until there is a cure.

 

“I want Lupus kids to be a community and resource for children anywhere who have Lupus, like me, or other autoimmune diseases. Everyone is welcome and I am happy to connect with you all!”

— Lola Kark, Founder

 

What We’ve Achieved

  • Launched our website lupuskids.org during Lupus Awareness Month, May 2021.

  • Partnered with the New Mexico Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, to build and strengthen our donation base.

  • Launched our social media presence on Instagram and Facebook to connect kids and families in New Mexico, the US, and the world.

  • Lola Kark went on KRQE Albuquerque News to promote and share about Lupus Kids (specifically to promote the Walk-a-Thon)

  • Had our first fundraising event, a Lupus Kids No-Sun evening Walk-a-Thon in November 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The walk was 2 miles and many people participated to raise money for Lupus Kids. This was both an in-person and virtual event open to New Mexicans and Lupus Kids supporters across the globe.

  • Created a year-round community service group through Santa Fe Preparatory School where local Santa Fe students join and help with Lupus Kids events and ongoing outreach and education projects.

  • Organized a “Post-Up Purple” event in December 2021 in collaboration with the Santa Fe Prep Girls Varsity Basketball Team. The Lupus Kids Community Service Group put on a homemade bake sale to raise money at the game.

  • In March, 2022, Lupus Kids Founder was invited to appear on Lupus LA’s podcast where she shared her story of hope and healing with Lupus LA Chairman and Lupus patient himself, Adam Selkowitz.

  • In October 2022, Lupus Kids launched the Lupus Kids Travel Fund. Funded by past Lupus Kids fundraising events, The Lupus Kids Travel Fund assists with travel costs for children with Lupus and other rheumatic disease and their families, particularly those in New Mexico where there are few local treatment options, who must seek care out-of-state.

  • In March 2024, Lupus Kids has a fundraiser through the Pasadena Triathlon and raised over 1K for the Lupus Kids Travel Fund.

  • In December/January 2024/25, Lupus Kids will launch the Lupus Kids Community Campaign. The Community Campaign will seek to bring more children together and into the Lupus Kids community through free t-shirts and letters of hope. This campaign will also enroll participating children and teens in an online community where they can connect with other kids with rheumatic disease.