If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help advocate for Lyme patients, but I don’t know where to start,” here’s your chance.

The Center for Lyme Action’s 2026 Virtual Advocacy Day happens on February 18. It’s your opportunity to speak directly with congressional offices, via Zoom, to help increase federal funding for Lyme, alpha-gal, and other tick-borne diseases.

This event used to be called the “Virtual Lyme Fly-In.” While the name has changed, the mission remains the same: amplify patient voices and drive real change.

I suggest you reserve Feb. 18 on your calendar now.

Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting out, CLA is hosting a Virtual Advocacy Day information session on November 12 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. They’ll walk you through everything you need to know: what to expect during meetings, how to share your story, and how your voice can help shape federal policy.

The info session is especially helpful for new advocates, but everyone is welcome. It’s free, held on Zoom, and will be recorded so you can revisit it later.

Click here to register for the Nov. 12 session.

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, President of LymeDisease.org. She is co-author of Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease and of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.