Local group schedules Lupus Awareness walk on City Hall lawn Oct. 4

Gloria Harris, founder of Breaking Through Ministries and the Lupus Organization of Mississippi, told the Meridian City Council on Tuesday that her group will hold a two-day Lupus Awareness event starting Oct. 3, with a “Circle of Strength” social that evening and an awareness walk at 8 a.m. Oct. 4 on the City Hall lawn. "We're just gonna pray and hope for, like, a big turnout so people can learn what lupus is," Harris said. The event is intended for people with lupus, caregivers, supporters and members of the public who have questions about the disease. Harris told the council she was diagnosed in February 2007 and founded her organization in February 2014. She said lupus affects "5,000,000 Americans." Harris said the social will begin at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Aura 5 (downtown, near Dumont Plaza) and that she distributed informational “goody” bags to council members. Council members did not take formal action on the request; the appearance was listed on the presentation agenda. Harris said she hopes the city will help publicize the events and thanked the council for allowing the late addition to the agenda.