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East Rockaway students, teacher 'Walk-Along' for Lupus

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A seventh grade social studies teacher and many of her East Rockaway High School students are putting their best foot forward to help find a cure for Lupus this weekend.

Joyce Loftus will be leading a team of students during the Walk-Along for Lupus at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Eisenhower Park. She’s been taking the walk for six years now, and decided to get involved after a close encounter with the disease.

“I did the walk for the first time in 2008 after my close friend was diagnosed with lupus,” Loftus said. “I wanted to do something to both personally support my friend show that we’re all fighting with her, but also to try and help a larger effort to help all people with lupus and try to find a cure for this disease.”

After enjoying the walk in 2008, Loftus said she had the idea to make her impact even bigger by bringing along students. “Its something that the kids have really responded to, we’ve seen a great amount of interest and a lot of turn out in the years we have done it.” Loftus said.

The school’s team, named “ERHS/Jennifer’s Circle” in honor of Loftus’ inspiration, has grown since students began walking with Loftus in 2009. “It started pretty small, we had a few kids come but it was hard because they needed to find their own transportation to the walk,” Loftus said.

“We’ve really grown since then, and we’ve gotten great support from the school and the community. The school is donating a bus for us to transport 40 students, and our bus driver is donating his time for the third straight year. We’re really fortunate to have that kind of support from the school.”

Loftus said she expected turnout to fill those 40 bus seats, and then some. “We have about 12 kids registered now, but we’re expecting much more, and we’ve had more in the past. We should have no problem filling the bus, and we expect as much as 80 kids to register to walk with us.”

Students who go on the walk, which includes free giveaways for participants from Grabber Hand Warmers, The New York Islanders, Ricola, and more, raise money through pledges and donations. Loftus said her team has big fundraising goals.

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