The Voice of Lupus Foundation to hold virtual health fair

As Lupus Awareness Month begins, The Voice of Lupus Foundation (VLF) will host a landmark online event offering education, empowerment and visibility for patients living with lupus to commemorate World Lupus Day 2025.

The virtual health fair and conference under the theme: Stronger Together – Building a Lupus Community Without Borders, takes place on May 10 from 2 pm-6 pm on Zoom and Facebook Live.

For over 14 years, foundation has been the unwavering voice of those battling one of the world’s most misunderstood and invisible illnesses. The VLF has been the national pillar of support for those living with lupus and autoimmune diseases in Trinidad and Tobago, a media release said. Founded in 2011 by Reeanna Harrilal the foundation was born from personal struggle and transformed into a national movement of education, support, and hope.

Harrilal, a national award recipient of the Hummingbird Gold Medal in the spheres of community development, education and empowerment, is a Lupus warrior herself. She said the VLF was created in response to the overwhelming silence surrounding this life-altering disease.

Through public education campaigns, medication support programmes, emotional wellness initiatives, and community outreach, the foundation has impacted over 1,700 families, the release said.

The VLF has hosted hundreds of in-person events over the years, bringing lupus out of the shadows and into the national spotlight. To commemorate World Lupus Day over the years, it has held its signature annual health fair and candlelight vigil on the Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain, and Woodford Square, where patients, caregivers, and supporters have gathered to honour lives lost, celebrate survivors, and renew the call for awareness and access to care.

From lighting iconic buildings purple to school awareness tours, 5K runs/walks, and health fairs, the foundation continues to amplify the voice of the invisible-those whose daily battles are often misunderstood or ignored, the release said.

Why this event matters now

Lupus is an incurable, autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. It disproportionately affects women, often during their childbearing years, and is frequently misdiagnosed. The emotional toll is often as great as the physical. This groundbreaking virtual health fair creates a platform where education meets empowerment, especially for those in rural, underserved, or housebound communities. The event will feature medical experts in rheumatology, dermatology, pulmonology, mental health, and lifestyle medicine, the release said.

Real-life warrior testimonies from lupus patients across the country and the US will be featured. There will also be alternative and integrative wellness talks (movement therapy, nutrition, spiritual care), live Q&A sessions, interactive discussions, and free digital resources.

“This event is not just for those with lupus,” says Harrilal. “It’s for the public, caregivers, advocates, and policymakers. It’s for those who still don’t understand what it means to live with an illness you cannot see. It’s for anyone who wants to learn, connect, and help create a world where no one battles this disease in silence.”

Fast facts about lupus:

Lupus affects over five million people worldwide 90 per cent of patients are women, many under age 45.

It can impact vital organs and is often hard to diagnose.

There is no cure-but early detection and education save lives.

Lupus is often called an invisible illness because symptoms are not always visible to others.

The event is free and open to the public, with registration now open at: https://forms.gle/cUSqjjMEqta8xeSf7.

For more info visit Facebook/thevoiceoflupusfoundation