Selena Gomez Outreach Helps Raise Over $500,000 for Lupus Research Alliance

In September 2017, the world learned Selena Gomez had a kidney transplant, as a result of her lupus. Her best friend Francia Raisa donated the kidney. It came after months of silence from Selena, as she stepped away from the public eye while working on her recovery. "Selena's openness and strong emotional connection to her worldwide audience has brought extraordinary awareness to a disease that is typically overlooked," according to the CEO of LupusResearch.org.  As a result of her encouragement to visit the website to learn more about lupus, their phones were ringing off the hook and website traffic is through the roof. 

Selena Gomez's platform for lupus: Her growing influence

Selena Marie Gomez started as a child actress in the TV series Barney & Friends. She got to perform with the band called Selena Gomez and the Scene before working as a solo artist after starring in Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel. So, it's safe to say that Selena Gomez made a name for herself at a young age. As of 2017, the popstar has already released 22 million singles, and over 7 million albums worldwide.

Aside from singing and acting, Selena also owns her own clothing line, self-titled fragrance, and a collection of limited-edition handbags. Selena got involved with several charitable institutions and her philanthropism has earned her the title of an ambassadress for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as well. As of today, she is affiliated with the Lupus Research Alliance, which she helps in advancing lupus awareness and in gaining enough funds for research.

Selena is a renowned artist and celebrity worldwide. Her 134 million followers in Instagram is proof of her growing influence on the lives of others. Being aware of how her platform can help this lupus organization, she inviting her fans, their families, and friends to extend some help. In fact, she did exactly this in her low-key 25^th birthday in 2017. In an Instagram post, Selena tweeted a lupus charity donation page link to invite all her fans to donate.

Learn more about the Lupus Research Alliance: Their success

There are several lupus organizations in the world that help in finding better treatment and cure for lupus. One of them is the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) for which Selena works as an ambassadress. LRA is a private funder of research on lupus that fosters better understanding, investigates treatments and cure, and helps both researchers and patients of the condition.

According to the organization, lupus is a complex condition that is difficult to defeat, treat, and diagnose. In almost 60 years, only one treatment for lupus has been approved. This organization hopes to aid in advancing an array of effective treatments for the disease and ultimately find a cure.

The fundraising and administrative expenses of the organization are funded by their own Board of Directors. 100% of the donations are directly used to support lupus research programs. It also organizes a Walk with Us to Cure Lupus initiative, which is a national fundraising program that raises more funding for their research programs.

WALK started in 2002 and accommodates thousands of volunteers in the US who wants to help in the effort. The event needs each participant to register online and encourages each of them to raise a minimum of $100.  Others who are unable to join the event can still help by becoming a virtual walker or a team captain.

Photo Source: Selena Gomez i Oslo Spektrum by Lisa Bjorheim