Lupus benefit event: dancing with wolfs
“My name is Èvelyne Vaillancourt, I’m 28 years old, and I’ve had lupus for 10 years. Since I’m in remission right now, I wanted to do something to support the cause by organizing a musical benefit show. This is the first time this type of event has been held in Quebec, so I’m very pleased. All of the funds raised will be given to the CHUM laboratory for research in autoimmunity (LABRAI)."
On May 4, 2009 at the Lion d’Or cabaret, Èvelyne Vaillancourt organized Quebec’s first benefit show in support of lupus research. Plenty of artists pitched in: Daniel Lavoie, Paul Cargnello &The Frontline, Marie-Pierre Arthur, the Les Voix Ferrées choir and Sophie Beaudet. The event raised nearly $14,000.
Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s conjunctive tissue. The Latin name “lupus” or wolf was chosen to evoke its destructive and invasive action. The disease has many different symptoms, some of which seem insurmountable because they spread to the whole body. The exact cause of this disease with a thousand faces is still unknown, so it is impossible to prevent. Lupus especially affects women and the disease is spread around the entire world. About 50,000 Canadians are currently struggling with lupus.