The Great Northeast Athletic Conference Partners With The Lupus Foundation of America for “Passionate Purple” Week To Raise Awareness About Lupus

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) has partnered with the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) to sponsor the first ever "Passionate Purple" week. "Passionate Purple" week will take place during designated women's basketball games throughout the week of January 17-24, 2009. The event was initiated to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc and their efforts to provide research, education, and support for all people affected by lupus.

"Passionate Purple" week is the vision of Simmons College Head Women's Basketball Coach, Tony Price, who wanted to  support a cause that is often overshadowed. Coach Price has had two personal experiences with lupus. A mother of one of Coach Price’s students and another close friend of his wife both have lupus.

As part of an all women's college, Coach Price feels an even closer connection to lupus, which predominately affects young women.  Ninety percent of people with lupus are women, and African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans are two to three times more likely than Caucasian women to develop lupus.

Coach Price says, "I am happy to have the support of the GNAC and the other 12 GNAC institutions to raise awareness for lupus. I think it is important for the small colleges and conferences to set the tone and support these causes, rather than wait for the big schools to set the mandate. This is a unique effort and one in which I hope we can continue to raise awareness and funds for in the future."

Lupus not only affected people in Coach Price's life, but it has also affected another member of the GNAC family. Mount Ida Head Women's Basketball Coach Jack Casey has also felt the effects of lupus. Coach Casey's wife Annemarie has lived with lupus for 28 years. Annemarie is very active in the lupus community, and has raised awareness and funds for the cause. Annemarie and Coach Casey have also assisted in the development of the first ever GNAC "Passionate Purple" week.

“With the continued support and partnership of organizations like the GNAC and its coaches, players, and fans, together we will raise awareness of this unpredictable and potentially fatal disease and provide services, support, and hope all individuals affected by lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, Lupus Foundation of America , President and CEO.

During "Passionate Purple" week two GNAC coaches, both of whom have a strong passion for lupus awareness, will face off on the court when Coach Casey's team will take on Coach Price's team at Simmons College on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. Although they will support and fight for different schools, they will come together in support of lupus awareness.

GNAC Commissioner Joe Walsh is "excited about the partnership with the LFA and wants to thank all of the participating schools for joining the fight against lupus and raising funds for those affected by lupus."

The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and for providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA operates programs of research, education, and advocacy, and has a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters, branches, and support groups. To learn more about the LFA, visit www.lupus.org.

To find out more information on the "Passionate Purple" week and how you can get involved go to http://www.thegnac.com/passionatepurple/09.