Washington, U.S.A. — Shannon Boxx, a 34-year-old professional soccer player from California, has dedicated her life to scoring goals — both on and off the field. Boxx is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a three-time member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup team, and has played for the past three years for the Women’s Professional Soccer League.

Boxx, who will be heading to London in a few weeks as a member of the U.S. Women’s Olympic soccer team, also has a new goal off the field: working with the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) as an advocate to raise awareness of lupus, an unpredictable and sometimes fatal disease that affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans.

The summer issue of Lupus Now magazine, published by the LFA, highlights how Boxx has maintained her successful career as a professional soccer player while living with lupus. Diagnosed in 2007, Boxx talks about her decision to speak openly about living with lupus, a very complex and life-altering disease. The article also profiles other inspirational individuals, including a nuclear physicist, a sports reporter, and a high school teacher, who discuss how they cope with lupus symptoms while thriving in their careers.

Boxx shared her lupus diagnosis with her teammates and coaches, and she is proud that she’s never missed a U.S. National team game or practice due to her illness. Boxx listens to her body and she encourages other people living with lupus to do the same.  ”I think if people can see that I’m playing soccer while dealing with all of these symptoms and stressors, it gives hope that you can stay active while living with lupus,” Boxx explains.

“I now have this tremendous opportunity, and I want to talk about overcoming obstacles, my journey, and how I made it where I am today,” Boxx adds. “Most importantly, I want to promote awareness about lupus, so that we can find a cure.”

To read the complete article, or to order a subscription to Lupus Now magazine, go online to lupusnow.org. Published three times per year for people with lupus, their families, and health professionals, Lupus Now includes the latest information on new treatments, clinical trial updates, lifestyle and wellness features, personal stories, and more.

Image Courtesy of  Ampatent (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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