Selena Gomez Starts the Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research
Selena Gomez is supporting her fellow lupus fighters in a big way.
The singer, 24, recently donated to the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. The money will go towards the Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research, which will support a pilot research program focused on treating complications of lupus.
“I continue to be optimistic about the progress being made in lupus research and am proud to support the promising work at Keck School of Medicine,” Gomez said in a statement, according to People. “I am hopeful for the millions of us around the world that may benefit from this.”
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people around the world have lupus.
Gomez first revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus after she took a break from touring while undergoing chemotherapy to treat the condition. “I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,” Gomez told Billboard in 2015. “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re a**holes.’ I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”
Since then, Gomez has spoken out about how the autoimmune condition has led to anxiety and depression. In October, she temporarily checked in to a rehab facility to help manage her health.
Photo courtesy of Joella Marana via Flickr
Image via Creative Commons/conceptx_design
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
erin-migdol