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2015 Volume 27 Number 2
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The Lyme Disease Challenge
In 2014, a grassroots initiative called the Ice Bucket Challenge took social media by storm and raised more than $21 million for
the ALS Association. In its wake, a group of five women — some with Lyme themselves, others whose children have Lyme — joined
together to plan a similar challenge to raise awareness and funds for Lyme disease.
They enlisted several thousand supporters on Facebook, and in March 2015 launched “Take a Bite Out of Lyme,” also known as
the Lyme Disease Challenge. The idea is simple:
Take a photo or video of yourself biting a lime (and perhaps making a sourpuss face).
Post it on social media, along with a fact about Lyme disease.
Make a donation to ILADEF (the International Lyme and Associated Diseases
Society’s 501(c)(3) non-profit educational fund), and challenge others to do the same.
As of June 2015, the group had raised more than $77,000 for ILADEF. More
importantly, the campaign has garnered
lots of press coverage, in the U.S. and
other countries, too. Dozens of media
outlets, including the Dr. Oz Show and
many local TV stations, have featured
the Lyme Disease Challenge. Celebrity
participants include Yolanda and David
Foster, actor William Shatner, Beastie
Boys Ad-Rock, international singer-actress
Thalia, many Bravo Real Housewives stars,
Olympic skier Angelie VanLaanen, many
professional athletes, and a large number
of local athletes and media personalities
across the U.S.
Not all who snap selfies of themselves sucking limes are celebrities, of course.
Countless individuals who have Lyme or know someone with it have also joined in.
Melissa Ferwerda Bell, one of the Challenge organizers, says it’s a good way to bring
the Lyme community together and bring broader recognition to the issue.
to a million followers on Instagram and
486,000 on Twitter. Although she gives
few details about her treatments, she has
shared pictures of herself hooked up to IVs
and using a portable far-infrared sauna.
Slate
There has been a lot of recent news
coverage about ticks and the many diseases
they carry. Writing about ticks and their
microbes may seem a “safer” subject for
many reporters. They don’t have to get
bogged down into the question of whether
chronic Lyme exists. The online news
magazine
Slate
ran a major article under
the headline: “Be Very Afraid of Ticks.”
This was followed by the sub-heading:
“The threat of tick-borne diseases is
serious and growing. And you’re probably
not doing enough to protect your family.”
The article has been shared on Facebook
more than 41,000 times.
Dear Abby
This advice column, reportedly viewed
by 110 million people per day, marked
Lyme Awareness Month by running a
letter about Lyme disease. It came from
a Canadian reader who said, “If someone
doesn’t recognize the symptoms and seek
treatment immediately, Lyme disease
becomes chronic and debilitating.” The
letter included URLs for ILADS and the
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation.
Abby’s response was a real eye-opener.
She said her husband had been bitten
by a Lyme-infected tick “while sitting
in a friend’s living room in California.”
The friend’s dog had brought ticks into
the house. Abby’s husband developed
a bull’s-eye rash and received prompt
treatment, which was apparently effective.
Then Abby says: “But not everyone is so
fortunate, and people with chronic Lyme
disease have been known to suffer for life.
A word to the wise: be informed.”
Singer Debbie Gibson, right, took part in the
Lyme Disease Challenge with Lyme patient,
Teresa Ann.Photo by Teresa Ann.
Angeli VanLaanen, professional skier and
Lyme patient
Tiki Barber, former NY Giants running back