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Left to right: Suzanne Blech, SVP for Screen Media Films, Steven Martini, Director Lymelife, Barbara Edwards, TFL Gala co-chair, Rory Culkin, Lymelife, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jennifer Frascella and Cathy Rubin, TFL co-chairs |
LYME GALA RAISES OVER $600,000
FOR CRITICALLY IMPORTANT RESEARCH
AND EDUCATION |
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While most cases of Lyme disease are reported from North America and Europe, the disease is also found in China, Australia, Japan, North Africa and Israel, among other places. For over 30 years, nothing seems to have improved for those stricken with chronic Lyme disease. Misdiagnosed and improperly treated, Lyme disease can have devastating effects on a person, a family, and a community.
About Lyme disease
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, with more than 20,000 new cases officially reported every year. Unofficial counts are much higher. Lyme has been found in all 50 states with a strikingly high percentage of its victims being children.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they are outside a lot, especially in the early summer, when ticks are most plentiful. If they become infected, kids may experience headaches, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. If the disease is left untreated, children may also develop muscular and joint problems, learning and behavioral problems, depression, nerve damage, memory loss and other cognitive, psychiatric and neurological problems.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium carried in certain ticks. Most, but not all, people infected with Lyme will see a bull’s-eye rash at the site of the tick bite between three and 30 days after infection. While this rash is a definitive symptom of Lyme, most diagnostic tests for the disease are unreliable and may produce false negatives, according to TFL and the Lyme Disease Association (LDA). TFL and LDA together have endowed the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, the first of its kind dedicated to the study of chronic Lyme disease.
About the Time for Lyme Gala
On April 18, 2009, Time for Lyme presented its biennial Gala event – The Dream – Creating a Lyme Free World, at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, CT. Proceeds from the Gala will be used to combat the devastating effects of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. During the course of the evening, TFL shared information regarding its work in education, advocacy and research.
About the Time for Lyme Gala
Time for Lyme is an organization dedicated to eliminating the devastating effects of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness. Its mission is to prevent the spread of disease, develop definitive diagnostic tools and effective treatments, and to ultimately find a cure for tick-borne illness by supporting research, education, and the acquisition and dissemination of information. In addition, TFL continues to act as an advocate for Lyme disease sufferers and their families through support of legislative reform on the federal, state and local levels.
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Back row left to right: Janet Vaccaro of Stamford, Nancy Tafoya of Stamford, Yolande Casey of New Canaan, Diane Blanchard of Greenwich, Brien O'Neill of Stamford, Deborah Burnaman of Wilton, Emily Bragg of Darien, Debbie Siciliano of Greenwich, Ann Lyons of Greenwich |
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