There’s a new internet challenge going around that’s raising awareness for a serious illness and raising money for a worthy cause.
It’s called the Lyme Disease Challenge. People all over the nation and the world are “Taking a Bite Out of Lyme.” That includes the team here at Natural Healthy Concepts.
The Lyme Disease Challenge is very similar to the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, which we all remember seeing in our Facebook feeds non-stop last summer. That goofy internet sensation ended up bringing quite a bit of attention to Lou Gehrig’s disease. Now organizers, advocates and supporters of the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) are hoping to repeat that success by asking folks to take a juicy bite out of a sour slice of lime!
Lyme disease is something that hits home for us. We have several employees who are living with the illness. While we call them survivors, this is something they’ll most likely be dealing with for the rest of their lives.
One of those people is a name and face you’ll come across quite frequently on our blog. Back in 2013, Mary Bloomer wrote about her experience with Lyme disease as well as the signs and symptoms you should watch for if you feel there might be a concern. As you probably know if you read Mary’s articles, she does a lot of research, and her struggle with Lyme disease was no exception. That’s made her our unofficial Lyme disease expert.
Recently, we put together a video in which we interviewed both Mary and one of our local customers about Lyme Disease. You can see that video below to help you understand more about this illness, what causes it and what can be done.
Watch Our Living with Lyme Video
Taking the Lyme Disease Challenge
The idea to participate in the ongoing Lyme Disease Challenge came straight from Mary. She got the team together and collected donations for the cause…but that’s not the best part.
Mary’s sister, DeDe Riopelle, is also living with Lyme. So, in the spirit of fun, and an attempt to go viral, the two of them put together a special song for the challenge. It’s their own personal parody of the classic tune from the film White Christmas, “Sisters.” Mary and DeDe take on the roles of Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, but they’re still trying to figure out who ends up with Bing Crosby and who gets Danny Kaye.
Watch Mary & DeDe’s “Sisters” Parody for the Lyme Disease Challenge
Major points go to Mary and DeDe for their courage and creativity!
But participating in the Lyme Disease Challenge doesn’t have to be such a fancy ordeal. If you want to help raise awareness and make a donation to the cause, it’s actually very easy. You don’t even need to make a video. Most people are simply snapping pictures of their sour faces after that lime juice hits their taste buds.
Here’s How it Works:
- Take a Bite – Shoot a video or have a photo taken of you biting in to a fresh slice of lime.
- Share a Fact – When you share your photo or video on social media, include an informative fact about Lyme disease.
- Pass on the Challenge – At the end of your video, or when you post it online, make sure to challenge others to “Take a Bite out of Lyme!”
- Hashtag It – In addition to tagging the people or organizations you challenge, make sure to use the hashtag #LymeDiseaseChallenge wherever you post it on social media.
Want some more detailed instructions? Visit the official website for more info, including some Lyme Disease facts you can share.
We chose to challenge two other teams. First, we issued the challenge to our sister company Magazines.com down in Tennessee. Then we also challenged the folks at Wondercide.
Wondercide makes safe and natural insect repellents for both pets and people. You can find their products and other natural bug repellents here at Natural Healthy Concepts with free shipping. It’s a smart item to have on hand as we move towards summer. It’s also important to keep in mind that while most of us think of ticks when it comes to Lyme disease, many believe other biting insects – like mosquitoes – can spread the disease as well.
Read More About Lyme Disease on Our Blog:
- It’s a Lyme Life: Living with Lyme Disease
- 10 Things You Should Know About Lyme Disease
- Tick Bites, Lyme Disease and Your Pets
- How to Avoid Disease Spreading Insects
- Beating the Odds – True Stories of Natural Health Success (includes a Lyme disease survivor story)
Did you already take the Lyme Disease Challenge? Link to your pictures or video in our comments section below so we can check it out!
