By LOLITA AVILA
Contributing Writer
Saint Rose had its first Lupus Benefit Concert on Friday to help raise funds and awareness to this forgotten disease.
Lupus is a disorder where the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. The disease can cause arthritis, inflammation of the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
As a collaborative effort, community service groups Knights of Service and the National Minority Association for Pre-Health Students hosted the event to assist in finding a cure. There was a three dollars admissions fee for the concert, in which all proceeds collected will go to the Lupus Foundation of America.
The concert took place in Saint Joseph’s auditorium from 6 to 9pm. The event included performances from fellow Saint Rose students, such as the Girls Next Door, Brian Jay, and Meghan DeBerry. The performances also included an up and coming music artist Joe Gattuso showcasing his skills.
Between performances, facts and statistics were being shown to the crowd as they enjoyed their refreshments.
The benefit concert had been in the works for about a year. After going on a trip for Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, current president of Knights of Service, Natish S. Davis decided to start an organization that prided itself in nurturing and helping the community.
“ I notice that the school does a lot of community service but it is not ongoing. I wanted to create a group that will make its mission about giving back,” said Davis.
Shortly after establishing Knights of Service, Davis expressed her interest in hosting a benefit concert to Kajanna McKenzie, the president of MAPS. Both leaders wanted to make the concert about Lupus, as they were inspired by a story from their mutual friend, Daniella Watson.
Watson, an English major and junior at the College of Saint Rose, has had to watch her mother suffer through this awful disease. Watson became teary eyed as she expressed how much she admires her mother’s strength and perseverance.
In her high school, Watson hosted many activities that helped promote awareness for Lupus. She is more than appreciative that the two groups decided to educate the campus about the disease.
MAPS and Knights of Service has held three fundraising events to assist in collecting money for the foundation. There were two bake sales which raised approximately $100. On April 19th , the organizations hosted Saint Rose’s first on campus car wash in Lima Lot. The event earned over $200 in which all of the money was donated to the foundation.
One of the contributors to the cause is sophomore Tricia Bustamante. Although, she is not a member of either groups, Bustamante was excited to help out for the cause. Usually she keeps it a secret that she was diagnosed with Lupus. Bustamante fears that people will pity her or assumes that they will not understand.
She went on to explain the struggle she has balancing her school work and social life with the ramifications of her disease. She elaborated on how exhaustion plays a significant role in her life. On many occasions she has had to turn down invites from her friends to go hang out because she was too tired.
“Its easier to just tell people that I am sick, instead of saying I have Lupus,” said Bustamante.
Bustamante has baked cupcakes for the fundraisers and was in attendance for the concert as well. She spoke about how happy she was that Lupus is becoming a more common knowledge.
“It makes me feel good because I don’t feel so alone,” said Bustamante.
The Lupus benefit concert is a unique event to the Saint Rose campus. Knights of Service and MAPS hopes to educate students and help them realize that Lupus is not an uncommon disease and there need to be actions taken to fight against it.