Lyme Disease Survivor, Logan McCulloch, Begins Cross Country Bike Trek to Raise Awareness about Lyme Disease – a “National Epidemic”
- Written by: Pitch Engine
Seattle, WA - When the CDC issued a Lyme Disease alert for 17 states earlier this month, Louisville resident, Logan McCulloch, was one of many local Lyme Disease survivors surprised to learn that Kentucky, Indiana, and other states were not on the list. Convinced the CDC is sending the wrong message, McCulloch decided to send a message of his own by riding a bicycle across the country, and visiting Lyme Disease support groups in every state. His “Trek for Truth” bike ride kicked off this weekend in downtown Louisville.
WLKY TV: Man to Bike Across Country to Educate People About Lyme Disease
When Logan McCulloch began his cross country bicycle ride, he left amidst the cheers of dozens of friends and supporters who believe in his mission – to convince anyone who will listen that Lyme Disease is national problem, flourishing in Kentucky, Indiana, and dozens of other states not listed in the recent CDC health alert. Some supporters of McCulloch's "Trek for Truth", struggling with the physical and financial toll of the disease, plan to wear lime green T-shirts to his send off and rally a show of support for a man who has become a crusader against the Lyme Disease since he contracted the disease in 2011.
"I was hiking with my son in Mammoth Cave National Park when my life changed forever”, said McCulloch. “Like a lot of people bitten by ticks that carry Lyme Disease, I was ignorant. I suffered for months with joint aches, loss of energy, and it even memory loss. I had no idea what I was suffering from, and neither did my doctors. I was misdiagnosed several times.” Unfortunately for McCulloch, an accurate diagnosis did not happen quickly; he lost his job as a Red Cross administrator after a year of treatment. Now recovered, McCulloch is on a mission to encourage people in every state to take precautions to stay protected from ticks and the horrific diseases they can carry.Two years ago, during his first "Trek for Truth," McCulloch hiked more than 1,900 miles along the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness about Lyme Disease in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. Throughout that journey McCulloch wore Insect Shield-treated apparel from ExOfficio and several other brands to help prevent tick bites including RailRiders and Outdor Research.
Today, Lyme disease poses a national threat. More than 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year.
“Despite these numbers, I’m amazed at the amount of ignorance and risky behavior I see every day” said McCulloch. “Whenever you’re in or near a wilderness area, whether it’s for a hike with your dog or a picnic with your family, you have to take precautions.” The precautions McCulloch encourages include:
Clothing – Wear effective and long-lasting insect-repellent clothing such as ExOfficio's BugsAway Collection with Insect Shield. Insect Shield's permethrin-treated clothing is EPA registered to repel ticks (as well as a variety of other dangerous insects.) The repellency is odorless, invisible and the repellency lasts through 70 launderings. Learn more at www.InsectShield.comYard - Ticks are not out in the middle of your lawn, they live where yards border wooded areas, or anywhere it is shaded and there are leaves with high humidity. Place a layer of wood chips between your grass yard and the woods edge. Ticks are attracted to the wood chips because of the shade and moisture it provides.Tick Checks - Do periodic tick checks (on yourself, your children and your pets) and carefully remove any found. (Wear light colored clothing so ticks are easier to find.)Hiking or Biking Precautions - When on a hike, bike, or walk try to remain in the center of a trail in order to minimize your exposure. Remember - ticks cannot fly, they crawl up. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, woodpiles or fallen logs - areas where ticks love to live.Remove Ticks Safely - To safely remove attached ticks, first disinfect the area with an alcohol swab. Next, using a pointy tweezer, grab the tick "head" as close to the skin as possible and simply pull straight out. Remember to disinfect the bite site again after pulling the tick out.
After leaving downtown Louisville, Kentucky McCulloch will bicycle through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California, traveling along the winding Transamerica Trail, stopping in cities to meet with Lyme disease support groups in each state. Armed with a GoPro video camera, McCulloch plans to record interviews with Lyme disease survivors and post their stories along with regular updates about his travels to his website, JourneyThruLyme.com McCulloch plans to finish his 10-week "Trek for Truth" Lyme Disease awareness campaign in San Francisco in Mid-October. About Insect Shield® Technology: Insect Shield Repellent Apparel and Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Insect Shield Technology is utilized by leading lifestyle brands, work wear distributors and International relief organizations across the globe to provide effective protection against insects and the diseases they can carry. Insect Shield is an approved vendor of the US Army and US Marine Corps. For more information visit insectshield.com
Authors: Pitch Engine
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