May is Lupus Awareness Month

May is Lupus Awareness Month.

Yorktown residents Cheryl and Brittany Sanchez appeared before the Town Board Tuesday to share information about lupus and other “invisible illnesses,” like anxiety, arthritis and fibromyalgia that they say need greater awareness.

The mother-daughter duo has been personally affected by lupus since Brittany was diagnosed in 2020 during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their combined backgrounds in health care and science, they said navigating diagnosis, treatment and support proved difficult. After finding limited local resources for individuals and families living with lupus, they launched an annual awareness and fundraising effort to expand support, build community and bring greater visibility to the disease in Westchester County.

“She may look perfectly healthy, but she needs mobility aids, often, such as a wheelchair or a walker for any extended amounts of activity,” Cheryl said. “It is so important to remember to always be compassionate

Since the initiative began, local and county leaders have formally recognized the campaign’s impact. May has been proclaimed Lupus Awareness Month in the town of Yorktown and Westchester County, and the Westchester County Board of Legislators has declared May 10 World Lupus Day. Cheryl and Brittany Sanchez have also been recognized by the office of state Sen. Pete Harckham for their advocacy. In 2025, they expanded their outreach to Yonkers, where they addressed the City Council. This year, the Tappan Zee Bridge was lit purple in recognition of World Lupus Day.

“Every year, we try to bring attention to this complex disease,” Brittany said, who added that resources —social security, disability, Medicaid, and local support services —“are essential to helping all of those with visible and invisible disabilities.”

The duo thanked the board for its continuous support.

Lupus is a complex chronic autoimmune disease with no cure. The condition causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue instead of fighting infections. Anyone can develop lupus, but it is most prevalent in women and people of color. It commonly affects the skin, joints and internal organs, including the kidneys and lungs, and can cause inflammation and pain throughout the body. Because symptoms vary widely, it is often difficult to diagnose and treat.