Brampton Lyme Walk 2013

What a weekend! So much happened around Lyme Disease Awareness and nothing would have been possible without the help of friends, family and adopted family, Lyme patients and their families and various people who took on the cause as well.

If you haven`t seen them yet, please look at some of the pictures taken the night before at Niagara Falls, when green lights helped to raise awareness about Lyme Disease. LINK 

Saturday morning, May 18, dawned beautiful and slightly cloudy, just right for the hard work of setting up for the Awareness day at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton. Some of the pictures are shared here, but there are lots more to come. At the end of this post is a link to see more pictures in an album if you like.

The view from the pavillion where we were set up

 We started carrying tables and setting up, waiting for others to arrive and claim the spot where they wanted to be in order to talk to people attending the Walk. We had shade, a view of water, a slight breeze - it was gorgeous.

Such a great space to plan the layout! 

 Various friends arrived from towns all around to help plan, move, hold down table cloths, tents, brochures, snacks, T-shirts and more.

Young photographer on duty. Her pictures will follow!

 Rebecca was on duty with her camera, but also played with my cell phone - where she found a filter to only make anything green in colour and the rest in black-and white. Quite an effect!

Jim Wilson and Councillor John Sanderson - with Poutine sweatshirt!

 The Lyme Mobile attracted a lot of attention! Everyone wanted their picture taken with it. Councillor John Sanderson was there from the start, helping us set up and talking to various people.

Registrations 

 Friend Rouxline helped people fill in their registration forms and sign waivers if they haven't done so online, and then another table handled the registrations, bracelets, and T-shirts.

Gathering around the Lyme Mobile for a group shot

 We were planning to start the Walk at 11 am, but so many people walked on to register that we were getting later and later. No matter, everyone was in high spirits and had time to talk to many other people, create support networks, get advice and sign more petitions to ask for a change in how Lyme Disease is handled in Canada.

And they're off!

 People of all ages took part! It was so great to see families out for the event, sharing and caring together.

A stream of green behind the Lyme Mobile

 Kevin grabbed my camera and took loads of pictures as the walkers went around the park.

Picture taken by special request: Val and I with John 

 The park personnel was wonderful, helpful, supportive and eager to bring whatever we needed. They helped us carry the heavy stuff, set up tents and even find a lost walker .... Thanks to everyone, Val!

I wanted a picture with all the guys! Court Steggles, Jim Wilson, Kevin Sherriff and Dr. Ernie Murakami

 Court is the outgoing president of the LDAO (Lyme Disease Association of Ontario), Jim is the president of CanLyme (Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation), Kevin is the president of LymeSavers and Dr. Ernie is the founder of the Murakami Foundation.

Glass pendant made by Sheila in the UK

The lovely glass pendant with rainbow elephants attracted a lot of attention! To see more of Sheila's work, including cards and sterling silver, go to her link Handmade by Sheila. Thanks, Bendoggie!  (We met online years ago, and in person in London, England ... where our group had so much fun that the five-star hotel kept dropping stars and ended as a B&B by the time we all left again!)

Special paintings done in South Africa for the Walk --  limited copies available

If someone reading here would like a copy of the lovely watercolour froggies done by Karin, please contact me and we can work out something. These were sold at the Silent Auction, but more people wanted to buy some. You can also see Karin's other work on her Gallery KC.

All in all - a glorious day, and my dream of having a place where Lymies can find and give support, was very much true. The feedback was very positive, even if we didn't have as many people as in 2012. With the weather so nice, you can't blame people for wanting to go to the cottage!

DONATIONS  (updated May 23)
However, donations are still coming in. Please hit the "Contact" button at the top if you would like to make a donation, no matter where in the world you are. For ONLINE DONATIONS, go to CanadaHelps and choose one or more of the Lyme Links there. You can put in a note that it is for the Brampton Walk 2013 effort, but all goes to the charity.
THANK YOU !!

MORE PICTURES FROM SATURDAY

More pictures taken on Saturday in an online Album if you want to see:

CLICK

Lyme Day Walk - how far?

Goodness, this Lyme Awareness Day Walk is really taking off, and I'm so grateful for that, for the support and awareness circling out to others!

Right now we are hashing out the registration forms, so that people can register for the walk, order T-shirts if they want them, and get things firmed up. Hopefully registration forms will be on the LymeWalk website by this weekend, Feburary 12th.

But -- and this is the question from many --- how far is the walk? Is it a race? What are the prizes? What is the time limit?

No, it is not a race, as such. No time limit. No expectations, other than your presence and sharing the awareness with others. I'm hoping to offer a good prize to the person bringing in the most funds, though, through collecting donations from friends or family, but that's just a thought at this point and not a firm part of the planning.

The "formal" walk part will take around 20 - 30 minutes or so. See map here below or on Picasa (click the magnifying glass to enlarge on Picasa). Afterwards, there will be prize giving and draws, fun and time to talk to Lymies and families, sponsors, the artist who designed the T-shirt, play the Penny Sale, join the kids in a sack race or face painting, and just enjoy the day. I'm hoping someone from CanLyme will be there as well to share some information. Make sure you talk to the vet who will be there, about Lyme Disease in pets - they can be treated!

However, there are paved paths all around Chinguacousy Park. Those who want to walk more, or even jog a little after the Lyme walk, would be free and welcome to do so! It is a lovely park with lots to see. Remember to visit the greenhouse - it is free. Take the kids to the barn and the petting zoo. Walk around the ponds and enjoy sitting on the grass, looking at the ducks and other birds. You are welcome to bring a picnic and propane bbq if you wish. We are planning activities and fun for kids, and during the afternoon, after our event, the park will have a Midway, so families can really make an outing of it!



Ching Park map - click for larger view

 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Truth is, this Lyme Awareness Day is supposed to be a family outing, a time spent learning and sharing about Lyme Disease, of relaxing in the park with a picnic after the walk, and for Lymies and their loved ones to get the emotional support we so desperately need from each other. To know we are not alone, that others are suffering and struggling as well, can mean as much as a load of medication and supplements. And for those who are caregivers and friends, helplessly watching a family member in pain or struggling, this gathering is a way to feel they are doing something instead of just standing by.

Last year when Kim and I went to Ottawa in May 2011 to attend the Lyme Rally on Parliament Hill, it was an uplifting experience for both of us (and the others!) to suddenly see other green T-shirts, to talk and hear stories, and to say, "me too!" Together, we can face this battle. And teach others about it so that they might avoid the struggle we've gone through to get diagnosed, treated and well again.

THE DREAM
Any funds raised on May 19th will be donated to the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. Their mission is to educate, to research and to teach about Lyme Disease. The dream is to one day have a testing facility in Canada where people with Lyme symptoms can go for testing, without having to face the battle of disbelief, scepticism and "it is all in your head".

Taking part in our Lyme Awareness Day, be it walking or as spectator, paying the registration fee or adding a few dollars as donation, bring us closer to this dream. Who knows, the next person you talk to, might have undiagnosed Lyme disease now or in the near future, and your information might help them on their journey.

Lyme Walk in Brampton: May 19, 2012

Chingaucousy Park (pronounced Ching-go-kuzy park) in the middle of Brampton, Ontario, is a huge park, consisting of 100 acres filled with pathways, trees, picnic spots, restrooms, a petting zoo, greenhouse, tennis courts and more. It is close to the City centre, bus terminal and the airport.

Why is this important? Because with the support of Her Worship, Susan Fennel, the mayor of Brampton, a Lyme Disease Awareness Walk will be held in the park on May 19, 2012!

This is early yet, but I'm hoping to secure helpers, volunteers, supporters, sponsors for T-shirts and people to either walk for themselves or for someone who is too sick to walk. The Faces of Lyme disease need to be seen, to show through sheer numbers how important this issue is. We need doctors to be aware and to do early diagnosis, we need better and more secure testing, we need public awareness, and we need protection for doctors and patients alike. Most important: Patients need to be treated in Canada instead of having to spend hundreds of dollars and countless hours to travel to doctors in the USA!

More about Ching Park, with pictures, map and bus schedule is HERE.
Information will follow and perhaps a Facebook page created to have immediate feedback.

Again - this is very early, but I hope it means people can get this on their schedule!

T-shirt design by Jenni

Lyme walk in Virginia Beach, May 21, 2011

May is Lyme Awareness month.
Great big thank you to my friend Amanda, her husband Paul and their son Edwill for getting together a group to take part in the Lyme Walk in Virginia Beach!
She asked for my picture to put on their T-shirts, but the closest I could get was to use an image of my familiar, so to speak, the meerkat.

I can load a bigger version of the image if anyone else wants to use it on a T-shirt or something --- and my thanks to all, for getting the message across.

The walk is officially called, Walk to Defeat Lyme Disease. More information can be found on the link here if you are interested.


PARLIAMENT HILL, OTTAWA
** In Canada, there will be lots of walks and rallies going on. Join us in Ottawa at Parliament Hill if you are anywhere near there on May 6, 2011!
More information and time for the rally can be found on the link here.

To see a bigger view of this poster on the right, please click HERE.
Thanks for reading and sharing!