10
11
F
or the past
few months
the TTARP Arima
Zone (The Eastern
Angels), has been
operating out of
newly improved
and expanded
facilities at the
Arima Tennis
Club where we
gather every
Friday afternoon.
Floor space is now more than doubled with a second
bathroom added and the old one refurbished.
If you are a TTARP member and you live in the
east you are welcome to join us for a relaxing and
enjoyable time every Friday afternoon. You will
have music for dancing fun games, such as all-fours,
scrabble and dominoes. You can join our choir, learn
a craft or play table-tennis. You can enjoy our several
functions during the year and tour our beautiful country
with us. All that and more will be yours along with the
many benefits of your TTARP membership.
If you are not yet a TTARP member and you are over
age 50 feel free to visit us. We will be happy to take
care of your registration and welcome you into our
wonderful fellowship.
The Voice of Lupus Foundation (VLF)
is a non-profit organization established
to foster greater awareness about lupus
in Trinidad and Tobago. The Voice
of Lupus Foundation was founded by
Reeanna Harrilal, a broadcast journalist
whose extensive media career spans
print, radio and television.
Ms. Harrilal is a lupus survivor who
has been living with Systemic Lupus
Erythematous (SLE) for more than five
years. She started this foundation in
November 2011 to use her experience
of living with this debilitating disease,
to encourage and motivate others in
providing hope for those who feel
isolated and misunderstood.
This group is for the grandmothers,
mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces,
sons, brothers and fathers who lost the
battle against this dreadful disease. It is
also for those who continue to fight and
those who have won the battle against
Lupus!
We work to provide hope, compassion,
support, empowerment, independence
and dignity to those living with lupus
and their families. Together as one we
can make a difference!
It is our hope that over the next five
years, this foundation through our
programmes of education and advocacy,
will lead efforts to bring national
attention and resources to shine a light
on this largely medically unrecognized
disease. We hope to build support for
the needs of those affected by lupus
and to elevate lupus to a place of
prominence on the nation’s health care
agenda.
Awareness of Lupus is the main
objective of the Voice of Lupus
Foundation. In 2012, The Foundation
IMPROVED MEETING PLACE FOR ARIMA ZONE
Craft time with Victoria
Draughts anyone
Jennifer asks ‘what
generation gap?”
Man to Man
Norma and Justin ‘i wanna hold your hand’
Sing a happy song
Up-coming events at Arima Zone include our annual
Mothers/Fathers Day function and a six day tour to
Grenada both in the month of May.
conducted a historic photo shoot entitled
“Faces of Lupus Project” at Saith Park in
Chaguanas. The objective of this photo
shoot was to showcase those living
with lupus in Trinidad and Tobago and
have persons identify with the local
Caribbean faces. There are also plans
to film a documentary called “Faces of
Lupus Foundation”, for which shooting
has already begun. In 2013, we filmed
our first infomercial at San Fernando
Hill where we brought
together over 12 patients
to share intimate details
of their personal struggle
with lupus.
We have successfully
created our own website,
a lupus community
whereby lupus patients
in Trinidad and
around the world can
communicate and share
their experiences with one another.
This will help with creating that
support that is much needed for
those who have lupus.
Through the VLF, we have
successfully branded World Lupus
Day which is observed on May
10th worldwide. This year we will
be hosting our annual candlelight
vigil at the Space La Noruba Car
Park, La- Romaine, to honour
those who have lost the battle to
Lupus and those who continue
to fight. This year we are doing things
a bit different. A Zumbathon hosted by
Dickie’s Charity Drive will be held on
May 9th at 3pm to 6pm followed by
the candlelight vigil. The foundation is
urging members of the public to come
on out and POP for lupus- PUT ON
PURPLE. This year’s theme is “Let’s keep
the light on Lupus! “ Registration for the
Zumbathon is $100.00 which will go as
LUPUS IS A CHRONIC AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE; A TYPE OF SELF-ALLERGY WHEREBY THE PATIENT’S
IMMUNE SYSTEM CREATES ANTIBODIES WHICH, INSTEAD OF PROTECTING THE BODY FROM
BACTERIA AND VIRUSES, ATTACK THE PERSON’S OWN BODY TISSUES. THIS CAUSES SYMPTOMS OF
EXTREME FATIGUE, JOINT PAIN, MUSCLE ACHES, ANEMIA, GENERAL MALAISE, AND CAN RESULT IN
THE DESTRUCTION OF VITAL ORGANS. IT IS A DISEASE WITH MANY MANIFESTATIONS AND EACH
PERSON’S PROFILE OR LIST OF SYMPTOMS IS DIFFERENT. LUPUS CAN MIMIC OTHER DISEASES, SUCH
AS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE.
The Voice of Lupus Foundation (VLF)
a donation to the work of the foundation.
Persons interested can call:
Allan- 3236644
Britney – 3673646
Charmaine – 3140708.
Office Line: 868-221-9677
Website:
Email:contact@thevoiceoflupus.com
