LymeLight Foundation Celebrates Lyme Awareness Month with Sochi Olympian Angeli Vanlaanen
Burlingame, CA (PRWEB) May 05, 2014 -- Angeli VanLaanen will appear in Burlingame, CA May 10th – 14th to connect with LymeLight Foundation grant recipients and donors, film a public service announcement and celebrate her Olympic journey. VanLaanen is a member of the US Ski Team, an X Games athlete, and is an Olympic finalist in the Women’s Half-pipe Ski competition which debuted in Sochi. She is also the producer of her documentary, “LymeLight” and is a Spokesperson for the LymeLight Foundation.
After 14 years of living with advanced, untreated Lyme disease, Angeli VanLaanen sought treatment following episodes of vertigo, exhaustion and crippling body pain. Her treatment temporarily side-lined her professional skiing career for a period of three years. In 2012, VanLaanen returned to competition. “My goal was always to get back to skiing,” VanLaanen said. “At times, I wasn’t sure if it was possible to return to the sport I love so much.” This year, she was a women’s half-pipe finalist in Sochi, and is ranked third in the World amongst women by the Association of Freeskiing Professionals. VanLaanen’s incredible journey is chronicled in the free documentary LymeLight.
VanLaanen has demonstrated that it is possible to triumph adversity. Her perseverance embodies the LymeLight Foundation's message of hope. As a spokesperson for the foundation, she shares the common goal of raising awareness for Lyme disease and helping those stricken with the disease.
The LymeLight Foundation was co-founded in 2011 by Phyllis and Scott Bedford along with another couple. It is a local, non-profit organization dedicated to providing treatment grants to children and young adults suffering with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the nation’s fastest growing infectious disease; rates of infection have reached epidemic levels. It is often misdiagnosed and lacks a standard of care. “The medical establishment is slow to recognize chronic Lyme disease as something that should be covered by health insurance,” says Phyllis. The LymeLight Foundation is one of the only organizations that provides comprehensive grants to children and young adults battling Lyme.
The LymeLight Foundation has issued 155 treatment grants totaling $600,000 and has touched grant recipients in 30 states. The LymeLight Foundation regularly hosts fundraising events. Upcoming events include the appearance of spokesperson and Olympian Angeli VanLaanen May 10th- 14th and the Ryde for Lyme cycling event August 2nd and their hallmark event Dart for Art 2015 on March 6th, 2015.
Learn how to get involved at:
LymeLight Foundation
Stories of Hope
LymeLight Facebook Page
Contact:
Phyllis Bedford
Co-Executive Director
(650) 868-8588
LymeLight Foundation
1229 Burlingame Ave, Suite 205
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 348-5509
Nancy Rollett, LymeLight Foundation, +1 (408) 888-0188, [email protected]
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