Mike Rangel: Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk Ambassador
Man lost his legs to lupus – still leads the Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk
Mike Rangel has lost both legs to lupus but it doesn’t stop him from walking at the Illinois Lupus Walk. This year, Mike will also serve as the Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk Ambassador. “Mike is an inspiration to anyone living with adversity – and to the lupus community, he is a champion,” says Charles Brummell, President and CEO of the Lupus Society of Illinois, the organization hosting the walk.
Mike was diagnosed with lupus in 1978 when he was 34 years old – two years after developing symptoms. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any system in the body. There is no test for lupus and the symptoms can often mimic other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose.
Mike’s diagnosis started when he took his daughter to the pediatrician. “The doctor said to me ‘you don’t look so good’”, Mike says, “I told him my symptoms and he was familiar with lupus because someone in his family has it. I was lucky.”
The typical lupus diagnosis takes four or more years and three or more doctors – early diagnosis and treatment is the best defense against lasting damage to vital organs. Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening. Symptoms can usually be managed with proper treatment.
No one else in Mike’s family has lupus – although researchers believe genetics plays a role in who develops lupus. Ninety percent of people with lupus are women in the prime of their lives and minorities are hardest hit. Mike is proof that despite the commonalities, anyone at any age can develop lupus.
In March, 2002, Mike’s right leg was removed due to a lack of circulation. In 2003, Mike’s left leg was removed for the same reason. That hasn’t stopped him from living his life: six weeks after Mike lost his left leg, he walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding and danced with her at the reception.
Mike’s commitment to lupus awareness extends to his family – his four daughters. His daughter Regina Casto is on the South Side Lupus Organization committee and serves as the captain for the family’s walk team Paco’s Posse. Paco’s Posse have been participating in Illinois Lupus Walks since 2007 and participated in all seven Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walks in Olympia Fields.
Mike and his family are committed to raising awareness about lupus and have used the lupus walks as an important way to do it. As Mike says, “the more the public is exposed to lupus, the better chance for a cure.”
About the Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk
The Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI) will host its seventh annual Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk event on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields, IL. The event includes a choice of one or three mile walks through Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields. The family-friendly event features music and entertainment, family fun, and kid’s activities. Teams and individuals are invited to raise funds for their efforts. Incentive prizes are awarded for fundraising.
All registered Walkers will receive an official Illinois Lupus Walk t-shirt on Walk Day. Registration is $25 for adults prior to the event and $30 for the day of the event. Kids 12 and under can register for $10 prior to or at the event.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2015
Registration opens at 9 a.m.
Walk steps off at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields, IL (203rd and Governor’s Highway)
COST: $25 advance registration, $30 on-site, $10 for children 12 and under
Register at www.lupuswalkil.org
About the Lupus Society of Illinois
The Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI), formed in 1973, is the Midwest's leading non-profit health organization dedicated to finding the causes and cure for lupus.
LSI’s mission is to promote lupus awareness and complement the work of health care professionals by providing personalized resources for the lupus community while supporting research.
With the help of informed volunteers, lupus medical experts, and committed and caring supporters, we:
• support research and conduct education programs so everyone affected by
• lupus can have an improved quality of life;
• provide information to
• ensure people with lupus and their families get answers and health
• professionals know about new means to diagnose and manage the disease; and,
• conduct activities to increase awareness of lupus, rally public support for those who are affected by lupus, and advocate on their behalf.
About Lupus:
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat.
For more information about lupus or the Lupus Society of Illinois contact Mary Dollear, Vice President, at (312) 542-0002.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Dollear, LSI, (312) 648-6053, mary@lupusil.org
Mike was diagnosed with lupus in 1978 when he was 34 years old – two years after developing symptoms. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any system in the body. There is no test for lupus and the symptoms can often mimic other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose.
Mike’s diagnosis started when he took his daughter to the pediatrician. “The doctor said to me ‘you don’t look so good’”, Mike says, “I told him my symptoms and he was familiar with lupus because someone in his family has it. I was lucky.”
The typical lupus diagnosis takes four or more years and three or more doctors – early diagnosis and treatment is the best defense against lasting damage to vital organs. Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening. Symptoms can usually be managed with proper treatment.
No one else in Mike’s family has lupus – although researchers believe genetics plays a role in who develops lupus. Ninety percent of people with lupus are women in the prime of their lives and minorities are hardest hit. Mike is proof that despite the commonalities, anyone at any age can develop lupus.
In March, 2002, Mike’s right leg was removed due to a lack of circulation. In 2003, Mike’s left leg was removed for the same reason. That hasn’t stopped him from living his life: six weeks after Mike lost his left leg, he walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding and danced with her at the reception.
Mike’s commitment to lupus awareness extends to his family – his four daughters. His daughter Regina Casto is on the South Side Lupus Organization committee and serves as the captain for the family’s walk team Paco’s Posse. Paco’s Posse have been participating in Illinois Lupus Walks since 2007 and participated in all seven Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walks in Olympia Fields.
Mike and his family are committed to raising awareness about lupus and have used the lupus walks as an important way to do it. As Mike says, “the more the public is exposed to lupus, the better chance for a cure.”
About the Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk
The Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI) will host its seventh annual Southern Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk event on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields, IL. The event includes a choice of one or three mile walks through Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields. The family-friendly event features music and entertainment, family fun, and kid’s activities. Teams and individuals are invited to raise funds for their efforts. Incentive prizes are awarded for fundraising.
All registered Walkers will receive an official Illinois Lupus Walk t-shirt on Walk Day. Registration is $25 for adults prior to the event and $30 for the day of the event. Kids 12 and under can register for $10 prior to or at the event.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2015
Registration opens at 9 a.m.
Walk steps off at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Bicentennial Park, Olympia Fields, IL (203rd and Governor’s Highway)
COST: $25 advance registration, $30 on-site, $10 for children 12 and under
Register at www.lupuswalkil.org
About the Lupus Society of Illinois
The Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI), formed in 1973, is the Midwest's leading non-profit health organization dedicated to finding the causes and cure for lupus.
LSI’s mission is to promote lupus awareness and complement the work of health care professionals by providing personalized resources for the lupus community while supporting research.
With the help of informed volunteers, lupus medical experts, and committed and caring supporters, we:
• support research and conduct education programs so everyone affected by
• lupus can have an improved quality of life;
• provide information to
• ensure people with lupus and their families get answers and health
• professionals know about new means to diagnose and manage the disease; and,
• conduct activities to increase awareness of lupus, rally public support for those who are affected by lupus, and advocate on their behalf.
About Lupus:
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat.
For more information about lupus or the Lupus Society of Illinois contact Mary Dollear, Vice President, at (312) 542-0002.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Dollear, LSI, (312) 648-6053, mary@lupusil.org
Northern Suburbs Walk
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Half Day Forest Preserve
Register today!
Mail in registration
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Half Day Forest Preserve
Register today!
Mail in registration