Our Annual Charity Events
Listed below are the sponsors and donors for the 2019 Lupus Victoria Masquerade Party, held on 25 May 2019:
2019
Friday 4 October – Annual Golf Day
SAVE THE DATE for our second annual LV golf day at Moonah Links Golf Course – more details to follow.
Saturday 25 May – Annual Charity Cocktail Party
Lupus Victoria held the 2019 Masquerade Party at River’s Edge, World Trade Centre, on Saturday 25 May, and we are delighted to announce that we had a sell-out guest list of 210. As guests entered the venue, they received a butterfly masquerade mask. A very exciting “live” auction was held with guests vying for items such as Qantas flights to Hong Kong; limited edition posters, personally signed by NBA superstar, Ben Simmons, a beautiful photo canvas print by one of our talented directors; as well as other very significant items. We had 20 “silent” auction items, many of which were vigorously contested over the evening; and we also held a raffle, the major prize being a night at the Crown Metropole hotel.
MC for the evening was Rob Jolly, Chair of Lupus Victoria, who introduced Dr Eric Morand (Head of the Centre of Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health). Eric gave a moving account of a young woman’s battle with Lupus over a number of years.
Eric then introduced Dr Sudha Raghunath, who is the second recipient of the Kim Jolly Lupus Research Fund Scholarship. Sudha is studying the cognitive dysfunction in Lupus, also known as brain fog, which involves trouble with thinking, concentration and memory, and is common in people with Lupus. Sudha detailed the research being done at Monash University on cognitive dysfunction, Lupus brain fog. As you can imagine, having problems with memory and concentration can be quite frustrating and have a big impact on people’s ability to function and quality of life, especially as it can affect people with lupus at any age (even in their 20s and 30s).
Sudha stressed that she also needs people who don’t have lupus to participate in the study. In order to know what normal or expected scores in thinking and memory assessment are, she needs a group of people who don’t have lupus or any major medical issues to participate in Monash’s study – that way they can compare their results to people with lupus. We really need more participants for this group of the study.
They are looking for mainly women (as lupus is much more common in women) aged 18-65 who are generally well. If you are interested, Sudha will go through the study criteria with persons interested over the phone to make sure you are able to participate.
The study assessment involves a one-off visit to Monash Medical Centre in Clayton to go through thinking puzzles and games which takes a bit over an hour. Sudha appreciates how busy you all are and she is flexible with timings so they can make an appointment that suits you and you can also be reimbursed for parking on the day. This study does not involve any blood tests or scans.
If you are interested in participating, please send an email or phone 03 8572 2104.
Eric and Sudha’s speeches alerted guests to the many complications of Lupus, which can have a very significant impact on ability to function and a person’s quality of life.
Sammi Palinkis, one of our newly appointed directors, opened up the entertainment for the night and was warmly received from all guests. Sammi wrote a song dedicated to Vu, our inspirational co-founder of Lupus Victoria, and sang it on the night. Sammi was followed up by “The Hornstars”, a 9 piece party band from the mean streets of Melbourne's north. One of the members of the band is Dr Eric Morand and the band’s funky style of music got guests strutting their own creative dance styles on the dance floor. We thank both Sammi and The Hornstars for their fabulous performances.
The Board of Lupus Victoria thanks its sponsors and donors for their generous support of Lupus Victoria, with moneys raised directly supporting the Kim Jolly Lupus Research Fund. Sponsors and donors are listed under the “Sponsors/Donors” page of our website. We also would particularly like to thank our volunteers who played a vital role in carrying out various tasks over the course of the evening.
Lupus Victoria will shortly post results of funds raised from the Masquerade Party.
2018
Friday 5 October – Inaugural Golf Day
After a lot of hard work and determination, Rob Jolly launch Lupus Victoria’s first (and it won’t be the last) annual golf day at Moonah Links Golf Course, Fingal, on the Mornington Peninsula on 5 October 2018.
Lupus Victoria thanks the staff of Moonah Links. It was a very successful and fun event, with 81 people participating in an enjoyable ambrose event. Lupus Victoria would like to thank the staff of Moonah Links who organised the event and donated prizes for the auction and raffle which took place at a lunch following the golf event.
The amazing total of $10,581 was raised for the Kim Jolly Lupus Research Fund.
2017
Friday 27 October – Annual Cocktail Party
Held at River’s Edge, World Trade Centre with over 150 people in attendance.
Event raised $15,000.
2016
Saturday 22 October – Annual Charity Event
Held at 501 Receptions, Footscray.
Event raised $18,380 plus personal donations to KJLRF of $7,625.
2015
Saturday 17 October – Annual Charity Event
Held at 501 Receptions, Footscray.
Event raised $15,000.
2014
Saturday 25 October – Inaugural Charity Event
Held at Eureka Hotel, Richmond.
Event raised $10,000.
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED TO DATE ARE $75,000.
*Note that the 2014 and 2015 events were held prior to Lupus Victoria’s incorporation but all proceeds from our four annual charity events have been donated to the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, directly supporting the Kim Jolly Lupus Research Fund.