Every single day Postcrossing lights up thousands of smiles across the world, literally making it a happier place. We are very proud of that and so should you! And today, Postcrossing brings to you an initiative that allows you to create even more smiles through your postcards. Interested? Read on.
On the 10th of May it’s International World Lupus Day, which has the goal of bringing more awareness over this chronic disease that affects over 5 million people worldwide. If you don’t know what Lupus is, here’s a quick summary:
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs (“foreign invaders, ” like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues (“auto” means “self”) and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Lupus occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially between the ages of 15 and 50, but it can also affect men, children, and teenagers develop it too. To learn more about Lupus, check Wikipedia or the Lupus Foundation of America.
So, how is this related with postcards? The German Lupus Association and Postcrossing have joined efforts around the World Lupus Day, and you can participate too! We call it LupusCrossing – Butterflies are crossing the world and all you have to do is to send a butterfly postcard (butterflies are the Lupus symbol) to the address below to express your support towards Lupus patients on this special day. The goal is to bring worldwide awareness to this problem while at the same time bring smiles to those affected by the disease. You can write on the postcard whatever you want, and you can ask questions about Lupus too.
All received postcards will reach the hands of Lupus patients. In return, the German Lupus Association will send thank you postcards to 3 randomly chosen Postcrossers of each country they receive postcards from so don’t forget to write your address on the card! A photo of the postcards received will appear on their website. Moreover, the German Lupus Association plans to design a roll-up display out of these cards that will be shown throughout the 80 regional groups.
Ready to spark some smiles? Then grab a postcard with a butterfly and send it to:

Secretary to German Lupus Association
Weg zum Sportplatz 4
97076 Würzburg
Germany
And don’t forget to check the German Lupus Association website for the progress.
Happy LupusCrossing!
63 comments so far
I also agree with solarts66 to make this idea a monthly thing - a different charity each month. I have MS and it is similar to Lupus in many respects. It would be great to see this idea continued onto the International MS Society among other great charities. :-)
I will send a few Butterfly cards, just to add the smiles total!!
We've raised quite some money now, which we're going to donate to the Dorough Lupus Foundation, Howie's foundation.
As a lupus patient, I am overwhelmed by your replies.
Each card will contribute to more awareness on lupus, and will be a ray of sunshine for lupus patients all over the world who don't have much sunshine in their life.
Of course I will definitely participate in LupusCrossing ;-)
The first card arrived today from Denmark;
have a look:
http://87.106.1.68:8080/LupusWebauftritt/jsp/oeff_lupustag_lupuscrossing2009.faces
Thank you, Dorthe, for the first LupusCrossing card!
And a big hug to all postcrossers sending a card!
Happy LupusCrossing!
We have no butterfly postcards here but myself and my six y.o. son (who also has an account on here) will do anything we can to find or make them. You can count 2 more smiles in.
http://87.106.1.68:8080/LupusWebauftritt/jsp/oeff_lupustag_lupuscrossing2009.faces
Lupus patients around the world are moved about the support and wishes you all give to them.
Keep on LupusCrossing! :-)
Next cards will be published tonight on:
http://87.106.1.68:8080/LupusWebauftritt/jsp/oeff_lupustag_lupuscrossing2009.faces
Hugs.
Today, the 102nd card arrived! The support you are giving is overwhelming! A big butterfly HUG to all of you!
LupusCrossing is now online on www.worldlupusday.org (see activities around the globe).
Keep on LupusCrossing!
You are amazing! Keep on LupusCrossing!
You are not too late ;-)
Solidarity to lupus patients is always welcome and never too late.
Today the 208th card from 37 countries arrived.
Your support is incredible! Thank you!
The cards will be shown (for the first time) in public on Saturday (May 9) when we will have an information desk in Würzburg city centre.
Keep on LupusCrossing!
In few days you can see the postcard here:
www.vestvendsyssel.webbyen.dk
This is really great project.
My card was 250th postcard on this project :)
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