Elaine Griffin.

Marathon run for Ardee woman's Lyme disease campaign

Elaine Griffin is an Ardee native artist and musician now based in Westport, Co Mayo.  Elaine’s work in raising Lyme Disease awareness through her campaign elainefightslyme recently led to her being nominated for Mayo's Most Inspirational Woman of 2015.

Elaine was also invited to talk on 'The Role of Creativity in Chronic Illness' at the Suffering the Silence: Living Experiences of Lyme Disease & Chronic Illness conference in London last October where she was also performed a number of her songs including her Lyme Disease awareness raising single 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy'.

Elaine has experienced ongoing health problems since age 18 and was finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2014 after 24 years of misdiagnosis. Lyme Disease is caused by the spirochetal bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which can manifest symptoms throughout the human body’s organs, skeletal and muscular systems, and the central nervous system. Lyme Disease is a tick-borne disease transmitted by tick bites. There is currently a very poor understanding of this disease in Ireland and consequently there are very limited treatment options available here.

Since her diagnosis in 2014, Elaine has made huge progress with her health thanks to treatment abroad funded mainly by donations from family, friends and generous members of the public who have kindly sponsored various fundraising initiatives held over the last two years. However Elaine's Lyme disease is chronic and her treatment is ongoing and costly. This summer Elaine is set to undergo further treatment in California.

To help fund this upcoming treatment, Elaine’s brother Patrick Griffin, along with work colleagues Brenda Irwin and Caríosa Walsh, will be running the Connemara half-marathon next Sunday 10th April and they are currently seeking sponsorship. Donations can be made through Elaine's Fundrazr page which is now re-activated for the half-marathon run. To sponsor the run go to Elaine’s website www.elainefightslyme.com and click on DONATE. Patrick will also be collecting sponsorship at Supervalu Ardee on Saturday 16th April. All donations greatly appreciated. Thanks for your support.

SPONSORS DRAW:

All Sponsors will be entered into a draw for a three-day family camping pitch pass + One Day Pirate Pass to Westport House & Adventure Park (for family of 4 valid until end of August 2016). Voucher kindly donated by Westport House. This draw will take place on 7th May and result will be posted on Elaine Fights Lyme facebook page.

For more info on Elaine's fight against chronic Lyme Disease, and Lyme Disease in general, visit Elaine's website: www.elainefightslyme.com

or facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elainefightslyme/