Former New York Jets Guard Willie Colon to Host Annual Willie Colon Charity Golf Outing

NEW YORK, May 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) is proud to partner with former New York Jets guard Willie Colon for the Annual Willie Colon Charity Golf Outing, benefitting the ALR Jean Davis Research Grant.  Expected to be in attendance are fellow and former NFL players Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ray Lucas, Gregory Murphy, Max Starks, and Geno Smith.

The event will be held on Monday, May 23^rd at the Hudson National Golf Club.  Participants will have the unique experience to golf with former and current New York Jets players beginning at 11:30 am, and dinner, an awards presentation and auction will follow at 5:30 pm.  An opportunity for media photographs will take place at 12:15 pm.

Colon has a very personal connection to the cause.  The event will benefit a lupus research grant named in honor of his mother, who has lupus.  As an advocate for those with lupus, this event is one of many ways Colon has shown his support for the lupus community and the ALR.  "Watching my mother deal with the uncertainties of lupus, not knowing specifically what she was dealing with and being in and out of the hospital; it's really difficult.  The ALR are really leading the charge with researching the disease and now that we know more about lupus, I feel like the future is looking promising to helping people who have it.  I'm 100% on the team," says Mr. Colon.

About Lupus 
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the joints and almost every major organ in the body, including the heart, kidneys, skin, lungs, and brain. As many as 1.5 million people in the United States have lupus which affects mostly women during childbearing years, though men and children can have the disease. Lupus is three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women and is also more prevalent in women of Latino, Asian, and Native American descent.

About the ALR 
The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) is a national voluntary health organization dedicated to finding better treatments and ultimately preventing and curing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus), a debilitating autoimmune disease. The organization is based in New York City and chaired by Robert Wood Johnson IV, a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson. Since its founding in 1999, the ALR has given more money to lupus research than any non-governmental agency in the world. To date, the ALR has committed over $105 million to fund the most innovative and aggressive research into the cause, prevention and cure of lupus.  The board of directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, allowing one hundred percent of all donations from the public, and the proceeds of our signature grassroots fundraising program, Walk with Us to Cure Lupus, to go directly to support research programs. More information can be found at www.lupusresearch.org.

The ALR board of directors funds all ALR administrative and fundraising expenses, so 100% of all donations received goes directly to support lupus research.

SOURCE Alliance for Lupus Research

Related Links

http://www.lupusresearch.org