2015 Volume 27 Number 2 9

Singer, songwriter, former X guitarist, and Lyme patient Tony Gilkyson and his band raising the rafters at the LA Ticked Off Music Fest. Photo by Sandi Bohle.

Lorraine Johnson with Brent Martin and Dana Walsh of Lyme Less Live More, along with Sandi Bohle, LA Ticked Off Music Fest line producer. Photo by Tony Hayman.

Group photo of participants at the San Diego Lymewalk and Run.

the word and making a difference for people suffering from the disease. “We've got four festivals booked this year, and people and locations are lining up so that we may do as many as eight festivals in 2015-16. Every time we play, I have people who are sick with Lyme pull me off the stage and say, ‘Tonight you made me forget that I was sick.’ I can't imagine anything more rewarding than that. I also want to let people know that Lyme disease is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the country — four times faster than HIV. This kind of stuff is helping to change lives for the better.”

Keep your eyes open for upcoming announcements regarding the next Ticked Off Music Fest locations by visiting their website at tickedoffmusicfest.com.

San Diego Lyme community holds ninth annual walkThe San Diego Lyme Support Group held its Ninth Annual Lyme Disease

Awareness 5k and 1-mile Fun Run on Saturday May 16, 2015 at Ski Beach at the Mission Bay Resort in San Diego. It was a great opportunity for patients, friends and family to network and get some exercise at the same time. Over two hundred people attended the walk. Brooke Landau, Lyme survivor and reporter/news anchor with San Diego Six News, broadcast live from the event. Speakers included Therese Yang, MD, who thanked everyone for helping her keep her non-profit clinic open; and Nicola McFadzean, ND, who spoke about the multi-dimensional treatment approach necessary for recovery from Lyme and its co-infections. An inspirational Lyme success story read by Jenelle Conklin really moved the crowd. Over 150 attendees participated in the Lyme Disease Challenge. Attendees were able to visit health and wellness booths, and eat delicious food from the “O Truck,” San Diego’s popular organic food truck.

of music and speakers, the majority of whom had Lyme or family members who did. Speakers included Lymedisease.org CEO Lorraine Johnson; Nancy Rollett of The Lyme Light Foundation; Mara Williams, author and founder of Inanna House; and author, speaker, and Lyme Light Radio host Katina Makris.

Headlining the musical portion of the evening were the 90’s band Cracker and the Les Stroud band. The remaining acts were incredible musicians who all struggle with Lyme. Gregg Kirk and a West Coast version of his band, the Zen Engines, started off the night led by Jon Alvarez and fellow UCLA music students. Following them were up and coming singer/songwriter Keta, fresh off a tour opening for Sam Smith; Lyme community favorite Alisa Turner from Nashville; singer/songwriter/activist/author Natalie London and her band Hey, King!; and LA native and fan favorite Tony Gilkyson and his band.

The audience enjoyed great food catered by the House of Blues. All the musicians enjoyed playing on the House of Blues stage following in the footsteps of so many top artists who have graced the venue. The event was sponsored by the LA Weekly, InsectShield, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and Rightscorp.

Invigorated by the positive feedback the concert series has garnered, Kirk sees 2015 as a time to keep spreading