Eat and Drink Cheap for a Good Cause Tomorrow

The experience of being diagnosed with lupus can be depressing and frustrating, says Arlington resident Krista Blackburn. When she was diagnosed with the incurable autoimmune disease in 2007, at the age of 21, she didn’t even know what lupus was. Now, she’s trying to remove some of the mystery surrounding the disease.

Blackburn will be holding a fundraiser at The Front Page in Ballston (4201 Wilson Blvd) tomorrow, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The goal is to “raise awareness and find a cure for this stupid disease,” as she likes calling it.

Blackburn and her “Kickin’ It For Krista” team, which is raising money for the DC Walk for Lupus Now event next month, will be selling $5 wristbands that will allow participants to take advantage of specially-arranged food and drink specials.

Among the specials: half price appetizers and burgers, $2 Miller Lite bottles, $2.75 rail drinks, $3 drafts and $3.25 glasses of house wine.

Caps tickets, Best Buy and Lost Dog Cafe gift certificates and movie passes will be raffled off during the fundraiser. There will also be performance by 90s cover band The Civilians, whose members have recently moved to the DC area from Charlottesville.

Blackburn says she expects between 100-150 people to show up, but she’s hoping even more people will come to chip in for the cause and learn about the disease. “This walk means a lot to me personally,” Blackburn said.