Delle Donne: "It's such an honor to support Lyme Research Alliance as an Ambassador."
Elena will spread hope and courage to thousands of people affected by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Stamford, CT (PRWEB) November 05, 2014
Lyme Research Alliance (LRA) announced today that Elena Delle Donne, professional basketball player with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, two-time WNBA All-Star starter and 2013 Rookie of the Year, will serve as its first national Ambassador.
Delle Donne, who has battled Lyme disease since 2008, will support LRA’s efforts to promote Lyme disease awareness and its mission of funding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases research at major universities across the United States.
“It’s such an honor to support the Lyme Research Alliance as an Ambassador,” said Delle Donne. “While my battle with Lyme has been very public, there are so many people whose battles are not, and through LRA my ability to be a voice for them is amplified. Together, we are working to raise awareness and fighting to find a cure and I am eager to get to work.”
As part of her role as an Ambassador, Delle Donne will travel to various cities and participate in upcoming LRA events such as its April 11, 2015 “Time for Lyme” Gala. Additionally, LRA plans to have a section on its website devoted to Delle Donne’s personalized prevention tips and other Lyme education material.
At the non-profit’s Gala last April, Delle Donne received LRA’s Star Light Award for stepping forward as a role model for young people struggling with Lyme disease. For her inspirational off-the-court efforts, Delle Donne was also the recipient of the WNBA’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award through which she and the WNBA donated $10,000 to LRA.
Delle Donne was loudly applauded at the event when she said she believes Lyme disease “found me for a purpose,” alluding to the good she has subsequently been able to do for those afflicted.
“We are delighted to welcome Elena as our first LRA Ambassador,” said LRA Co-President Debbie Siciliano. “She will spread hope and courage to thousands of people affected by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.”
For more than a decade, LRA (formerly Time for Lyme) has funded innovative research at universities across the United States, from Northeastern University to Johns Hopkins, Washington University and Texas A&M, to name a few. Thanks to the generosity of the organization’s donors, LRA has raised over $9 million to combat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Lyme Research Alliance, formerly Time for Lyme, is a Connecticut-based, national non-profit that funds cutting-edge research into Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. For more information go to http://www.LymeResearchAlliance.org.
For more information on Elena Delle Donne, go to http://www.elenadelledonne.com