Background: Living with lupus can be challenging, and those affected need motivation and inspiration to navigate life with the condition.

Objectives: To show that life remains rich and meaningful even after a lupus diagnosis. It also aimed to inspire and support others living with lupus, recognizing the emotional strain of receiving such a diagnosis.

Methods: Titled “Life Is More Than the Disease,” the project featured an exhibition showcasing eight individuals with lupus. Each participant was photographed doing their favorite hobbies. The photographs were accompanied by motivational quotes that reflected their resilience and spirit. The exhibition debuted on October 16 in a corporate building in Sofia, where it remained for two weeks. Following this, the posters were displayed at the largest University hospital in Sofia for an additional two weeks. An official opening ceremony brought together rheumatologists, immunologists, patients, and patient advocates, who discussed the challenges of living with chronic illness and emphasized the importance of collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals. Looking ahead to 2025, the exhibition is set to travel to hospitals in other Bulgarian cities and will also be featured at a medical conference organized by the Clinical Immunology Laboratory of St. Ivan Rilski University Hospital in Sofia.

Results: The photographs were seen by many people, including other people with lupus who were motivated to continue their lives and to live to the fullest. A lot of media interviews were published, which helped in raising awareness about lupus and the challenges patients face.

Conclusion: The project will continue in 2025 and will keep motivating newly diagnosed patients to accept the diagnosis and live normal life. Photographs are a powerful way to draw society’s attention to important topics, such as chronic illness and the challenges it brings.

REFERENCES: NIL.

Acknowledgements: Miglena Ivanova, Hristina Bankova, Mila Pavlova, all patients that participated in the project.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.

© The Authors 2025. This abstract is an open access article published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ). Neither EULAR nor the publisher make any representation as to the accuracy of the content. The authors are solely responsible for the content in their abstract including accuracy of the facts, statements, results, conclusion, citing resources etc.