LUPUS UK is honoured to have the support of ambassadors. These ambassadors lend their name in support of our cause, and help to generate media coverage for the charity, or bring in donations.

Yoga has taught her that healing begins with one’s full acceptance of one’s body as it is. Followed by willingness to adapt to what one’s body is capable of, non-judgmentally. Frustration and rejection of one’s symptoms feeds illness through negative emotions. Meditation and yoga philosophy provided her with the necessary input for this self-love and acceptance.

18 years on from when she experienced her first blood clot, she has survived a bi-lateral pulmonary embolism, a peripheral blood clot in her right arm and a second DVT in her left leg, this time, an extensive 50 cm ilio-femoral one, which left her severely incapacitated. Each time she has clotted, she has been obliged to stop moving for several months and has been faced with the fear of an unknown future in regards to her yoga practice and recovery.

She vividly recalls the moment at St. Thomas’ Hospital when she was warned of irrevocable/permanent swelling and imminent ulcers that she would experience as a result of the reoccurring DVT. It was the practice of acceptance and even-mindedness instilled through the practice of yoga, that inspired her to “keep moving”, even if it meant going down from a 90 minute practice, to a 10 minute session or having to go “back to basics” on a regular basis. Eventually, though it might have taken months or years sometimes, she built herself back up again, each time.

Today, Komal (aka Komi Yogi), has the privilege of sharing her practice with yoga centers worldwide, in UK, Spain, USA and Chile; leading yoga retreats, teacher trainings, yoga classes and participating of large-scale festivals. She hopes to inspire others who might share a similar story, to befriend movement and fitness again, with patience and self-compassion.

She is extremely grateful to have crossed paths with like-minded enthusiasts at LUPUS UK, which have provided a platform through which she can channel her wish to be of support and share what have been life-changing tools for her throughout her journey with lupus.

P.S: It took a lot of rehab, but Komal is also back to wearing a pair of heels on a girly night out, pain free!

You can learn more about Komal via her socials on:

Beth Smith, known as “Beth Does Beauty” in the online realm, is a passionate lupus advocate, a beauty enthusiast and an online content creator. Her journey is one of resilience, positivity, and unwavering dedication to making a difference.

Beth’s life took an unexpected turn during her first year of University in October 2015 when she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. After battling a series of mental health struggles related to lupus and the physical changes she was experiencing due to medication and lupus itself, Beth embraced it as an opportunity to raise awareness about the realities of living with chronic illness. Her diagnosis became the catalyst for her lupus advocacy journey, where she tirelessly educates, empowers, and uplifts others facing similar challenges.

But it’s not just about his personal success. Alton was Team Manager for British Universities & Colleges Sport, where he mentored and trained young athletes to success, and today continues to coach young British athletes. Alton is an Advocate for Young People and the role of sport and the creative arts in placing them in the driving seat of what is possible for their lives. Alton is actively working on the development of young people through sport within the UK, the Caribbean and across the Commonwealth through skills development, knowledge sharing and awareness-raising.

Alton has been recognised by the World Governing Body as an athlete who embodies the values of his sport, “putting his Karate skills to the service of those who need them the most” and “using Karate to make a better world”.

Alton is an athlete ambassador for the Jamaican Olympic Association’s national team, where he represents at the highest levels on the world circuit. He also currently works for the Organising Committee for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as the Head of Youth Programmes & Policy, developing opportunities for young people to benefit from exciting engagement with the largest sporting event to take place in the UK in the last 10 years.

Alton started Karate at the age of 11 in a tiny church hall in East London’s Roman Road. The karate club was a place he truly felt at home and it taught him that he was 100% in control of what he could achieve in life. If he put in the work, nobody could stop him from achieving his dreams. He teaches the same life philosophy to his two beautiful daughters.

Alton has lupus. He was diagnosed in 2011 but had symptoms from 2009. As a competitive athlete, he cannot take steroids and is unused to taking regular medication. Alton says: ‘I take control of my pain and sport gives me a reason to be in pain that I cannot blame on lupus. I generally have at least one flare-up per month. In consultation with my rheumatologist, there was a time when I came off hydroxychloroquine, however now that I better understand (through attending a LUPUS UK event) that my medication is to prevent inflammation, which has longer-term effects on the body, I made the decision to begin medication again. Wanting to live a long, happy and active life with my little daughters was a real driving factor for that decision.

You can learn more about Alton via his socials on: