The Michigan Lupus Foundation is taking a new approach to advocacy and fundraising with “The Invisible Illness,” a comic book created in collaboration with Michigan-based Comix WellSpring’s BrandComix division to help raise crucial funding for the nonprofit. This powerful, illustrated story reveals the unseen struggles of living with lupus and the life-changing role community support plays.
 
Told through the lens of a young mother, “The Invisible Illness” shares the emotional and physical realities of lupus: the delayed diagnoses, the daily pain, the isolation — and why no one should have to fight it alone. All proceeds support the Michigan Lupus Foundation's critical mission.
 
“This project didn’t just come to us – it found us, like fate,” Dan Hills, a Traverse City resident and CEO of Comix Wellspring, said. “Watching my wife battle lupus — the fatigue, the pain and the frustration of not being believed — showed me how invisible this illness truly is. When I heard the Michigan Lupus Foundation might shut down, I knew we had to do something. As a storytelling company, we decided to bring this experience to life through comics.”
 
“The Invisible Illness” is more than a book. It’s a movement, a resource and a timeless tool for awareness. Long after the campaign ends, this story will continue reaching people, opening eyes and reminding lupus warriors that they are seen.
 
Earlier this year, the foundation launched a $125,000 capital campaign after losing key pharmaceutical funding — a crisis that’s affected lupus nonprofits nationwide. Without this support, the foundation risks closure, leaving thousands without vital resources.
 
“The overwhelming need for support in Michigan for those with lupus has encouraged the foundation to stay committed to fulfilling the foundation’s mission,” Kimberly Dimond, Executive Director of the Michigan Lupus Foundation, said. “We’ve had to think outside of the box, which led us to the comic book project. It’s a creative initiative to convey the impact of lupus in a new and unique format. We’re excited to offer another tool in the journey of living with lupus.” Dimond is a Traverse City resident and relocated the Michigan Lupus Foundation headquarters to Traverse City earlier this year.
 
Funds raised from “The Invisible Illness” comic book will help ensure the foundation is able to continue to provide regular programs and services.
 
To support the project or learn more, visit https://www.milupus.org/comic-book.
 
About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can affect any part of the body causing widespread pain and inflammation. People with lupus often suffer from joint pain, extreme fatigue and organ damage. Diagnosing lupus can take 2-6 years on average, per patient since it can often mimic other diseases and there is not one conclusive test. Lupus primarily affects young women between the ages of 15-45 years old and occurs more frequently in women of African American, Hispanic or Asian descent. More people have lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis combined. Two-thirds of the U.S. population does not know what lupus is, making it one of the foundation’s top priorities to increase awareness about this debilitating disease. There is currently no cure for lupus.
 
About the MI Lupus Foundation
The Michigan Lupus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure. The foundation provides financial and informational resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers including support groups, counseling services, financial assistance, advocating with lawmakers at the state and federal level to amplify the patient voice, funding state and nationwide research as well as hosting awareness and educational events across the entire state of Michigan. The Michigan Lupus Foundation has been continually serving Michigan since 1974 and is working to build a brighter future for all lupus patients and their families. For more information, visit http://milupus.org.