Go the Extra Mile, and you could help people suffering from the little-known disease Lupus.

A sponsored walk has been organised by a health forum to raise awareness of the condition because the wife of the organisation's chairman is a sufferer.

The Patient and Public Involvement Forum for Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust were in training at an away-day conference in Esholt this week.

And they are now asking more people tojoin them in the walk in Lister Park, Bradford on Sunday at 2pm to raise money and bring the disease more into the public spotlight.

They have joined with the Yorkshire branch of Lupus UK to hold the sponsored walk during October, which has been designated Lupus Awareness Month.

The forum, at Esholt Hall Conference Centre in Esholt, decided to organise the walk because the chairman Hoshiar Singh's wife, Surinder, sufferers from the disease.

She recently returned home after spending four weeks in hospital after a severe flare-up of the disease. Mr Singh said the family had been dismayed at how many health professionals they have encountered have little or no understanding of the problems faced by Lupus patients.

He said: "Lupus is a disease that mainly affects women and has a higher incidence within Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities. The symptoms are many and varied and the illness often seems to mimic other diseases.

"This gives rise to difficulty in diagnosis and the condition can be overlooked, sometimes for years, unless the GP or consultant is alert to the possibility of Lupus.

"Achieving an earlier diagnosis of Lupus allows a better opportunity for control of the disease."

Mr Singh and his family have become involved with Lupus UK, a national charity which aims to raise awareness of Lupus and to help fund research and eventually find a cure for the disease.

If you would like to join the forum members on their sponsored walk contact Janet Williams on (01274) 481590 or simply turn up on the day.

To find out more about Lupus visit www.lupusuk.com