Four hundred walkers and runners turned up in the cool, drizzly morning hours of Saturday, May 16 to support the cause of Lyme disease in the Washington area for the first annual Lyme disease 5K Run/Walk at South Run Park in Springfield, Virginia.

Over ten thousand dollars was raised at the run and online in the weeks prior to the event. Patients, caregivers, and friends wore green shirts and broad smiles as they took to the trail in support of their suffering loved ones in an effort to raise money for educational materials and research.

"We were thrilled to see such a good turnout considering the weather. We are grateful to those patients and volunteers who helped behind the scenes and to those who came to show their support that early in the morning," said Monte Skall, Executive Director of National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association.

The Run/Walk was initiated by a group of young ladies who formed a book club 2 years ago. When one of their members, Kristina Ford, age 24, was unable to participate due to chronic and debilitating Lyme disease, the club members decided to raise money to assist her with her numerous medical expenses. When she learned of their desire to help, she selflessly asked that any funds raised be used for the benefit of all patients. "I have heard so many stories, similar to mine, of patients having problems finding doctors willing to treat their disease and the denial of insurance claims. There is an ignorance that runs hand-in-hand with Lyme disease, my goal is to create as much awareness as possible about the severity of the disease and hopefully this will spawn the change of events necessary to help all those suffering from Lyme disease,” said Miss Ford of Sprin gfield Virginia.

The event also featured exhibitors including Mosquito Squad of Clifton Virginia and the Fairfax County Health Department. The latter distributed educational materials and applied tick tattoos with the logo, "Don't get sick by the bite of a tick!" After the run, a special showing of Under Our Skin, a documentary about Lyme disease, was shown at the South Run Recreation Center.



Left to Right: Krista Poppe, Delia Valentine, Katherine Romans, Kristina Ford, Marisa Gitchel, Meghan Yowell and Catie Skibo