The “Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease” Challenge kicks off each May for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This challenge is both fun AND important. Ready to join in? Great! Grab a lime and get ready…
The Challenge
The purpose of the Lyme Disease Challenge is to raise awareness and funding for improved Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment.
Are you in? Great! Then follow the three easy steps below and donate. Prefer not to take the bite? That’s okay too! Donate $100 instead. All the proceeds of the campaign will go to LivLyme Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on prevention and early diagnosis of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
1. TAKE A BITE: Bite a lime and TAKE A PHOTO OR A SHORT VIDEO of the act – the more sourpuss your face, the better (and funnier!).
2. SHARE A FACT: State ONE BRIEF FACT ABOUT LYME DISEASE, such as the facts provided below. You can say them in your video, write them on your photo, or include them in your post. Help us spread the true facts about Lyme disease!
3. PASS IT ON: Keep the campaign going — CHALLENGE THREE OTHER PEOPLE – your friends, family, whomever! – to take a bite! Mention them in your video or if you do a photo tag them in your post.
Awareness and prevention is the best cure.
Your participation matters. Post a fact to all to your favorite social media outlets while tagging your video or photo with #LymeDiseaseChallenge so we can support you and spread helpful information about this misunderstood disease.
The Facts
- Children are at the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease and are more vulnerable to central nervous system infections.
- Transmission of Lyme disease and other infections can take place in a matter of minutes, particularly if the tick is not removed properly.
- Lyme disease has been called “The Great Imitator” and can be mistaken for ALS, MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and other illnesses.
- Research suggests that Lyme disease and other infections can be spread from mother to baby during pregnancy.
- Studies show that standard laboratory tests recommended by the CDC to diagnose Lyme disease miss approximately half of actual cases, leading to misdiagnosis and an infection that is more difficult to treat.
- Over 63% of patients treated for Lyme disease continue to suffer symptoms that can be debilitating.
- The CDC estimates that there are 476,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year in the United States. Some experts believe the actual number of new cases could be as high as 1-2 million new cases per year in the US alone.
- Lyme disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii — and has been found on every continent, even Antarctica.
- Lyme disease has six times more new cases each year than HIV/AIDS, yet it receives less than 1% of its funding.
- Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite or any rash.
- There are no tests available to prove that the bacteria that causes Lyme disease has been eradicated, or that the patient is cured after treatment.
- Ticks can carry many different types of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections (some life-threatening) which can further complicate tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Prevention is the best cure.
Read the facts. Learn the facts. Share the facts!
