Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign


As you know, myself, Don, Anna and Alyssa have chronic Lyme Disease. This disease is a very misunderstood, misdiagnosed and overlooked illness. In 2008, 35,198 cases were reported to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Actual new cases are conservatively estimated at 422,000.

You can get Lyme in any state -- west coast, east coast, north, south and every state in between. It is everywhere. Ticks know no boundaries. Lyme is also found in many countries. It is on every continent except Antarctica. It is the fastest growing infectious disease in North America. There are more new cases of Lyme disease each year than there are of HIV, West Nile, Swine Flu, and Avian Flu combined.

My friend, Ashley, over at Lymenaide, has started a project to create a Nationwide Awareness Campaign for Lyme disease. Her brother, is filming a Public Service Announcement! I am so excited about it! It is time to get the word out about Lyme Disease. Knowledge is power and a vital part of getting diagnosed early and properly to avoid chronic lyme disease.

In order to bring this about, some funds must be raised. There are some production and distribution costs that need to be covered. Most donations are small, just a few dollars. They are adding up quickly! The goal is to raise about $5,000. All donations are kept track of on Ashley's website, here. When you donate, you will be acknowledged there too. Please help us spread awareness about Lyme Disease!

For all the different donation methods and options, please go to How to Donate.

Don and I are saving in order donate to the Paint May Lyme Green campaign. The public service announcement is a terrific way to get the word out about Lyme Disease and prevent others from getting this potentially disabling and horrible disease.

Thank you for helping us get the word out about Lyme Disease!

~Kara

Comments

Anonymous said…
OK Kara, with your endorsement I finally donated, always careful where I use the little money I have but I'll trust your instincts on this one.

Renee K
4/5/10, 1:25 PM
sheila said…
wow, thanks for the alert on Lyme disease.

and also for your condolences on Kai's stitches. Mom's always take it harder than it really is.

tell Don that we really should start a scar-on-your-chin facebook group. I thought it was funny.
4/15/10, 2:30 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guavalicious Contest Rules

As many of you know, I grew up in Hawaii, in the quaint little village of Laie . Many of you also know that I have been working away at my version of the Great American Novel for the last little while. Due to a bout of homesickness brought on by a cruel Utah winter, my story is set in (surprise) Laie. It was also in Laie that I learned to love the great taste of guava - the same taste I am about to share with a few lucky people in the form of my Guavalicious apple butter. To enter the contest, simply add a comment to this post that completes the following sentence: "A story set in Hawaii simply has to include _____." There are no right or wrong answers. I'm just curious to see what everyone has to say, both "insiders and outsiders". I also think it could be fun to try and use as many of these suggestions as possible. You can make as many as you want, but your name only goes in the hat once. I will add a jar of Guavalicious to the prize pool for every four entr
Read more

Canoe-Paddling Polynesian Guys

Image
We have finally hung a picture on the wall here in our house. The fact that this is a blog-worthy event eighteen months after moving in is, I admit, rather pathetic. But it is also very exciting. I finally feel like we are really moving in. Slowly but surely we're picking away at the projects that need to be done, and (for now) avoiding the temptation to take on any new ones. This picture is called Hoe Kama Kani , which means "paddle with the wind." We found this picture at a home show in Honolulu while we were students, and I just fell in love with it. I stood there and stared at the picture for quite some time, but I simply couldn't justify the $140 price. The salesman told us that they had a smaller print available for much less, but they had sold out at the show. We could look at it if we came by the studio the next week. Unfortunately, the little 8x10 just didn't have the same effect as the full size print. So as you can see, we bit the bullet, got the big on
Read more

The Liar's Game - Post 500

Image
Here it is - the 500th post here at Fifteen Minutes of Delusion. To celebrate, I'm having a contest. You can find the rules here . Post your guesses on this post. And now, on to the game. 1. My lunch with Michael Dorn. For several years, I was the Utah Wing Leader for Angel Flight West, a charity flying organization that donates flights in private aircraft for people who need medical attention. Each October, the Wing Leaders would get together with the board of directors in Long Beach, California, for a Wing Leader Planning Day. The first year I attended, actor and pilot Michael Dorn was on the board. I didn't recognize him at first, but as soon as he spoke, there was no doubt who he was. Kara and I were big Star Trek fans at the time. Although we didn't have any direct interaction, we sat at the same table during lunch. I was pleased to note that he took the onions off of his sandwich, just like me. 2. My flight with Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. One Christmas Kara and
Read more