Project Lyme

Project Lyme’s mission is to eradicate the epidemic of tick-borne diseases through awareness and education, support of cutting-edge science, and advocacy.
(3)

Project Lyme is a global awareness organization dedicated to making Lyme disease a household name and tick prevention commonplace. Started by Heather Hearst, a mother, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1986, Project Lyme was founded to raise awareness for prevention and early diagnosis of Lyme. Through her personal story, Hearst advocates the critical importance of talking about ticks and Lym

e by demystifying, uniting and advocating for victims and organizations around the world. Help the Project Lyme awareness movement spread the word about Lyme prevention faster than ticks spread the disease. Talk about Ticks. For more information, visit projectlyme.org

06/19/2026

62-year-old Bill Lankford, a retired scientist, expected to be sore and tired after completing an intense 50km swim-run event across Scandinavia. Instead, he wound up hospitalized with severe brain inflammation — and all because of a tick bite.

Bill's symptoms began with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches—symptoms many people might mistake for a cold or the flu. But after briefly improving, he developed excruciating headaches, balance problems, blackouts, and sensitivity to light.

Bill describes the pain: "I felt like an alien was trying to get out of my head.”

Doctors initially suspected Lyme disease, but after hundreds of tests, including a spinal tap, they ultimately diagnosed him with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a viral disease spread through tick bites that can cause inflammation of the brain.

Bill's recovery has been long and challenging. Months later, he still experiences fatigue, memory issues, and coordination difficulties. While he may never be as active as he once was, he was pleased to recently complete his first swim-run event since becoming ill.

His story is a reminder that tick-borne diseases can affect anyone—even healthy, active people—and that the consequences can be life-changing.

As summer adventures take us outdoors, don't forget to:

✔️ Perform daily tick checks
✔️ Remove ticks promptly and correctly
✔️ Consider following up with your doctor after a known tick bite

Read more about Bill’s story on The Mirror: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/tick-bite-made-feel-like-37302523

And learn more about how to prevent tick-borne infections on our website: https://projectlyme.org/resource/preventing-lyme-disease/

06/18/2026

🧪 What if we could stop Lyme disease before it ever reaches people?

New research by Dr. Janakiram Seshu and his team at The University of Texas at San Antonio — partially funded by Project Lyme, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and others — tested an innovative strategy that targets the small mammals that naturally carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

The researchers used Borrelia lipoproteins with transmission-blocking properties to immunize mice. The mice were then exposed to ticks carrying the Lyme disease bacterium and remained uninfected.

Because ticks often carry multiple pathogens, the researchers are also exploring whether similar strategies could help prevent other tick-borne diseases, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

While more research is needed, this new approach could help interrupt the Lyme disease cycle at its source and reduce the risk of future infections.

🔗 Read more about the science: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/iai.00210-26

Bay Area Lyme Foundation

06/17/2026

☀️Sending your child to camp this summer?

Children between the ages of 5 and 14 have a heightened risk of contracting Lyme disease in the first place. So, summer camp can be a dangerous setting, particularly without parents present to nag their children about tick safety.

Fortunately, with a little preparation, parents can help their children have a good time while staying safe from tick bites.

Here are a few simple guidelines to help prevent Lyme disease from ruining your child’s summer.

Read more on our website: https://projectlyme.org/tick-safety-guidelines-for-children-at-summer-camp/

06/16/2026

You asked. We’re giving you a little preview. 👀

Here’s what’s waiting for you on September 14 at Project Lyme’s 10th Anniversary Gala:

🏛️ An iconic New York City venue that matches the magnitude of the moment — Gotham Hall

🏆 A tribute to honorees Phyllis & Scott Bedford, whose LymeLight Foundation has delivered $12M+ in grants to Lyme patients across all 50 states

🎙️ An unforgettable evening hosted by Krista Williams — co-host of the Almost 30 podcast, bestselling author, and speaker who has inspired millions

🥂 A room full of advocates, survivors, researchers, and supporters — the people who make this mission possible

🌿 Ten years of impact celebrated, and a look ahead at everything still to come

This is not your average gala. This is a decade in the making.

Seats are available now — but they won’t be for long. 🎟️

Secure yours now: https://projectlyme.org/event/the-tenth-anniversary-gala-an-evening-of-purpose/

📍 Gotham Hall, NYC

🗓️ September 14, 2026

06/14/2026

✨ ADVOCACY WIN FOR THE LYME COMMUNITY ✨

There’s encouraging news from Washington, D.C., this week: Thanks to the tireless efforts of our advocacy partner, the Center for Lyme Action, our fellow Lyme organizations, and patient advocates like you, the House Appropriations Committee has approved significant funding increases for Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and other tick-borne disease programs.

Highlights include:

✔️ +$10M for NIH Lyme and tick-borne disease research
✔️ +$1M for CDC Lyme disease programs
✔️ +$1M for CDC vector-borne disease programs
✔️ $5M for LymeX innovation initiatives

The bill also includes important report language that helps ensure federal agencies continue prioritizing Lyme and tick-borne disease research, surveillance, and patient needs.

While there is still work ahead before these investments become law, this is a significant step forward—and a powerful reminder that advocacy works.

Thank you to every patient, caregiver, clinician, researcher, advocate, and supporter who has helped make progress like this possible. Together, our voices are being heard.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as the appropriations process moves forward.

For more information on how Project Lyme is making an impact, check out our website: https://projectlyme.org/our-impact/

Center for Lyme Action

06/13/2026

At 17 years old, Lillyana's life changed after a tick bite.

What began with a 104-degree fever and a trip to the emergency room became years of chronic pain, neurological symptoms, brain fog, physical limitations, and emotional isolation. Seven months passed before she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and even then, the challenges were far from over.

"I had spent seven months desperately trying to understand why I was so sick while feeling dismissed and unheard,” Lillyana explains.

Today, at 22, Lillyana continues to search for answers while navigating the lasting effects of Lyme disease and related health conditions. She is also writing a memoir about her experiences.

By sharing her story, Lillyana hopes others living with Lyme disease will know they are not alone.

Do you have a story to share? Connect with us at www.projectlyme.org/share-your-story/

(IG: .lilly)

06/12/2026

When chronic Lyme disease enters a relationship, it doesn’t just affect the person who is sick. Both partners wind up facing challenges they never expected.

On a recent episode of the Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast, Lyme survivor and author Sarah Krivos shared how years of fatigue, pain, brain fog, and uncertainty nearly cost her marriage. As her health declined, communication became harder, misunderstandings grew, and both she and her husband Dan found themselves carrying burdens the other couldn’t fully see.

While Sarah was focused on surviving and healing, her husband was trying to hold their family together. Through counseling, honest conversations, and a commitment to understanding one another, they found their way back together.

"We tend to hurt those who are closest to us," Sarah says. But her story is also a reminder that healing is possible—for both individuals and relationships.

If Lyme disease has affected your marriage or partnership, know that you’re not alone. 💚

Tell us about your experiences.

And read more about Sarah’s story on Lymedisease.org: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-puts-marriage-at-risk/

06/11/2026

NEW LYME STRAIN HITS NEW YORK:

A newly published CDC report identified the first known case of Borrelia mayonii—a less common bacteria that can cause Lyme disease—in a New York resident who had not traveled outside the state.

After the patient became ill in 2025, investigators tested ticks collected from the person’s property and found multiple ticks carrying B. mayonii, confirming that the bacteria is now being transmitted locally in New York. Borrelia mayonii had previously only been observed in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the U.S.

The patient, who was also infected with another tick-borne illness called anaplasmosis, was treated with doxycycline and began recovering.

Researchers described the finding as evidence of “local transmission,” meaning the infection was acquired close to home rather than elsewhere.

While most Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, this discovery highlights how the landscape of tick-borne diseases continues to evolve.

Borrelia mayonii can present similarly to Borrelia burgdorferi, but it may be more likely to trigger nausea, vomiting, more widespread rashes, and neurological issues.

Ongoing surveillance of ticks, wildlife, and human cases is critical for understanding emerging pathogens and helping communities better protect themselves from tick-borne illnesses.

Check out the science: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7521a2.htm

Learn more about Borrelia mayonii and other tick-borne diseases on our website: https://projectlyme.org/resource/other-tick-borne-diseases/

CDC

06/10/2026

✨ Project Lyme is proud to announce our 10th Anniversary Gala host — Krista Williams, best-selling author and co-host of Almost30.

On Monday, September 14, 2026, we will gather in Manhattan, New York City, for a milestone evening celebrating a decade of research, education, advocacy, and patient community in the fight against Lyme and tick-borne disease.

We are honored to have Krista — a powerful voice in wellness, health, and personal growth — lead this meaningful night alongside leaders across healthcare, philanthropy, media, and the patient community.

The evening will also feature a special recognition of Phyllis and Scott Bedford for their extraordinary contributions to the Lyme and tick-borne disease community through their LymeLight Foundation.

Guests can expect an inspiring program, elevated dining and cocktails, powerful storytelling, and unforgettable moments.

🎟️ Tickets are now available:

👉 https://projectlyme.org/10th-anniversary-gala/

This anniversary isn't just a look back — it's a call forward. We hope to see you there.

LymeLight Foundation

06/09/2026

From Amy Kurtz: Four years ago, I was sitting in the exam room of my 36th doctor. I was waiting for test results, bracing myself for another round of heartbreak and disappointment.

For decades, I’d dealt with so much pain and discomfort in my body, so many inconclusive procedures and tests, and so many missed life experiences. I didn’t have much reason to believe that this time would be any different.

But I was proven wrong.

“I am very clear about what you have,” my doctor told me. “You have late-stage neurological Lyme disease and two co-infections.”

That began my journey to real healing. I felt so much better in every way, and yet, I was still struggling in a way I couldn’t yet explain.

That is why I decided to write my second book, ‘But You Look Fine.’ It is my mission to help people with invisible illnesses feel less alone and to break the silence on this crucial, painful, and pervasive part of healing out of the shadows and into the light.

Learn more about Amy’s new book: https://amykurtz.com/but-you-look-fine/

Amy is coming to New York, and you’re invited to join her at two amazing NYC bookstores:

In conversation with Chloe Melas at Barnes and Noble UWS, Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m.: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062212067-0

In conversation with Alessandra Olanow in Brooklyn at WORD bookstore June 11 at 7 p.m.: https://withfriends.co/event/28130609/amy_kurtz

Address

229 E. 85th Street #38
New York, NY
10028

Opening Hours

7pm - 8pm

Telephone

+12073709313

Website

http://projectlyme.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Project Lyme posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Project Lyme:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Organization
Claim ownership or report listing

Featured

Heart River Center for Intuitive Healing

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in New York?