With campaigns like the ALS Ice Bucket challenge successfully raising 115 million dollars in funding, a new campaign has popped up in social media news feeds, worldwide. Beginning this March, the Lyme Disease Challenge has been asking participants to “Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease.”
Those who are involved share photos of themselves biting into a lime wedge on social media. They are also asked to mention facts about the disease and ask friends to join along and complete the challenge, plus donate $10. If invitees are not up to the task, they can instead donate $100.
In an interview on the Public Health Alert website, the organizers explained that “the purpose of the Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease Challenge is to raise awareness and funds to improve diagnosis and treatment. All proceeds will go to International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Fund (ILADEF), the 501(c)(3) non-profit of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). ”
What is really helping to push the campaign forward and spread the word are the celebrities on board and the power of social media, which continues to prove to be a valuable fundraising tool. In just a couple of months, the challenge has already exceeded $50 K.