Avril Lavigne Starts Campaign To Fight Lyme Disease
Musician Avril Lavigne has decided to launch a campaign to fight Lyme disease. Lavigne, who recently opened up about her battle recovering from the disease, is still struggling.
As the Inquisitr reported, Sunday marked the singer’s 31st birthday, and in order to make it count, Avril decided to celebrate by launching the campaign via the Avril Lavigne Foundation. The campaign will raise funds for awareness about Lyme disease. It also hopes to provide care for young adults who suffer from the disease.
For my b-day, I want to help people w/ #Lyme disease. Join me & you could be in #CharmingwithAvril: http://t.co/vT29pLwgOE @AvrilFoundation
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 27, 2015
The campaign is partnered with Prizeo, an incentive fundraising site. The winner will get the chance to have a speaking role in Lavigne’s animated film, called Charming. In a statement, Lavigne said, “I’m excited that this year’s campaign is supporting people with Lyme disease and helping others to better understand this issue.” She added, “My fans are always so supportive and ready to give back; I look forward to coming together for an issue that’s so close to me.”
God is great. Glad to see your continuous recovery from that lyme disease. We are always here for you @AvrilLavigne ? pic.twitter.com/hok4kGL85C
— erika (@blackstareriks) September 23, 2015
In a blog post, Lavigne announced the news on the foundation’s website. “This year, we’re raising funds to support a cause that’s very important to me personally: helping people with Lyme Disease – who could not otherwise afford treatment – get the care they need.”
“Only a small percent of people get the early diagnosis and treatment that is so important in fighting the disease. I am asking you to join me in helping people receive the treatment they need. So please donate, tell your friends and post about the campaign!”
As the Inquisitr previously reported, Lavigne opened up about her Lyme disease diagnosis back in June. At first, she went through a series of tests and doctors suggested that she was just depressed when she complained that she couldn’t get out of bed.
She opened up to Good Morning America in a tearful interview to talk about the struggle she faced to get a proper diagnosis.
“I was in Los Angeles, and it was literally the worst time of my life. I was seeing every specialist, and literally like the top doctors… It was so stupid. They would pull up their computer and be like, ‘Chronic fatigue syndrome’ or ‘Why don’t you try to get out of bed, Avril, and just go play the piano?’ or ‘Are you depressed?'”
At the time, Lavigne said that it wasn’t an uncommon struggle for people who have Lyme disease. That many are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed because of their symptoms. “This is what they do to a lot of people that have Lyme disease. They don’t have an answer for them, so they tell them… ‘You’re crazy.'”
When she first talked about her diagnosis, Avril told People magazine that she wasn’t aware that a bug bite, which is how she suspects she got infected, could cause Lyme disease. She didn’t realize that it would make her bedridden for five months. Of the ordeal, Lavigne said, “I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t move. I thought I was dying.”
As for the Avril Lavigne Foundation, it’s not just involved in creating awareness for Lyme disease. It also has other partners like the Special Olympics, Easter Seals, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and The Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.
[Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images]
