How can I be a Lyme advocate and make change?
Whether you have Lyme, tickborne illness, are a caretaker, or family member, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE from the comfort of your home. The Center for Lyme Action holds a virtual event every February (called a Virtual Fly-In) where you join your state senators and representatives on Zoom to request further funding for tickborne illness. Don’t worry, there is a brief training offered upon signup. No travel, no fee, and everyone is welcome!
I’ve personally participated in this event, and I absolutely love it. It empowered me. It gave me a voice. It made me feel like I was doing something to help myself and others. It reminded me of the pain of my story by listening to others. It helped heal me.
This year’s event will be February 18 and 19, 2025 (not the whole day but it is helpful if you block it out). You will receive your time slots a few days before. You do not have to speak at all, not everyone will get to, but we need bodies to represent our community so just being there is profound. They also offer behind-the-scenes volunteer work if that’s more your speed. In any event, there is something for everyone.
Registration ends January 31, 2025.
Listen to this informative LYME TIME PODCAST episode with CLA’s Government Relations Manager Meghan Bradshaw today on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and at TheTickChicks.com to learn more about patient advocacy.
The center for Lyme Action is a 501c4 dedicated to growing federal funding for Lyme disease to find a cure—especially for Lyme patients with persistent, debilitating symptoms. Their values are bi-partisan, inclusive, humane and scientific.
In 2019 a group comprised of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation and Project Lyme organizations came together to create a new organization to bring together patient advocates and members of congress and their staff, resulting in the Kay Hagan TICK Act being signed into law. In December 2020, the President signed new appropriations that nearly doubled the federal funding for Lyme disease to 108M.
This episode will go into what CLA does as well as how you can sign up for the annual Lyme Disease Virtual Fly In to be face to face with your own state representatives to ask for further funding.
In good health,
Ali
