The Richmond Chapter serves Lyme patients and their family members from the counties, cities and towns around Richmond. Cities and suburbs include Henrico, Sandston, Chesterfield/Chester, Bon Air, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Petersburg, New Kent, Williamsburg, Tuckahoe, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Colonial Heights, Charlottesville, Laurel, Highland Springs, Highland Park and Hopewell. Counties include Henrico, Caroline, Goochland, Powhatan, Amelia, New Kent, Charles City, Fluvanna, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Spotsylvania, King and Queen, James City, Sussex and Surry.
The chapter’s main objectives are to:
- • Meet the need for an active support, educational, and advocacy group in Richmond and surrounding for individuals with tick-borne illnesses. Our group is also open to all who play supportive roles in their lives.
- • Educate the general public about tick-borne illness prevention and prevalence.
- • Advocate awareness and reform among parties who affect how tick-borne infections are perceived and treated.
- • Propagate collaboration and data sharing among medical professionals and organizations, researchers, and governing agencies through active discourse.
- • Encourage a cohesive alliance among all members of the Lyme and tick-borne patient community.
Meetings will be facilitated by Debra Rice and Dawn Kean Wilson.
Dawn has a scientific background as a former Cellular Biologist, and has held Ecological Planning and Research positions with state agencies and universities.
She was also employed by The US Public Interest Research Group, where she worked with elected officials, including Nader and Brown, on various environmental and political propositions.
Her own experience through the turbid, windy, bumpy road of Lyme disease and Babesiosis motivates Dawn to help others and to advocate change in current tick-borne illness doctrines and perceptions.
She can be reached by email at lymehelpva@gmail.com or by phone at (804)264-9114.
Debra has worked as a graphic designer at Franklin Street Marketing and Advertising, and Children’s Wear Digest, and most recently was the Graphic Arts teacher at Hanover High School.
She has also done several freelance design projects relating to Lyme disease, as well as for a Florida Red Cross Teen Leadership Program.
Debra has realized that being infected with the nightmare of Lyme disease has come with a silver lining. She has been able to use her skills as a designer to spread awareness, and has been fortunate to meet so many wonderful people who are bravely battling Lyme.
She can be reached by email at lymelight11@gmail.com or by phone at (804) 380-3745.
Monthly meetings will be held on the fourth Sunday. Location alternates between Henrico County’s Dumbarton Area Library and Henrico County’s North Park Area Library.
Please contact Dawn at lymehelpva@gmail.com to be put on our meeting reminder and location list.
Since our usual meeting date, the 4th Saturday of every month, conflicts directly with Thanksgiving and December holidays, we do not have meetings on the 4th Saturday of November and December. Instead, we have one meeting to cover both months that takes place on the 2nd Saturday of December.
- Dumbarton Area Library
- 6800 Staples Mill Road
- Henrico, VA 23228-4930
- (804) 290-9400
Contact Dawn at lymehelpva@gmail.com for more information.
