Celebrating Our Second Year as a Charity
At the end of March 2021, we marked the second year anniversary of our charity. We reflect with pride on what have we achieved so far. Highlights of 2020-21 Lyme Resource Centre's second year has seen more efforts to raise awareness of all tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease. This year we have had a particular focus on professional education.
We held a Zoom training course for health professionals, which has been recorded
We recorded 2 hours of videos in a series of 'Small Bites for GPs', each short video answering a specific question on Lyme disease
We recorded a public awareness presentation designed to help outdoor organisations
We added more content to our open, easy-to-use research database of peer-reviewed papers on tick-borne diseases
We wrote to the World Health Organisation to ask for acknowledgement of Lyme disease spread from mother to child at childbirth
We had an article published in the Pharmaceutical Journal by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Our 2020 conference, aimed at furthering research and understanding, took place via Zoom and was a great success - video recordings of the presentations will be available in the next few months
We run an ongoing social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, especially during Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May
We contributed to a Scottish parliamentary petition submitted by Tick-borne Illness Campaign Scotland and discussion in the Scottish government on Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses
We keep networking with others who can influence, including the media and professional organisations
We have so far failed to achieve significant government action but we are getting noticed in the media and having meetings with MSPs, government, and the NHS, and there is a current promise of a Scottish Government public awareness campaign during 2021
Ways You Can Help As we go forward, we still need help to get the message out that Lyme and tick-borne diseases are serious and need far greater action to prevent and alleviate suffering. There are many ways to get involved, either by donating, fundraising, or providing expertise. Can you help with fundraising for more awareness, research, and treatment? We are signed up to GoFundMe, and Kiltwalk for community fundraising. Why not start a birthday fundraiser? You can follow our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts and subscribe to our YouTube channel to help spread awareness.
As usual, we will be raising awareness during May this year. Why not help by getting involved in spreading our social media messages?
We also have leaflets and car stickers you can order and help distribute.