TICK AWARENESS EFFORTS HINDERED BY PANDEMIC
Source: CochraneToday (Extract)
Posted: July 6, 2020
“COVID has shut down everything, except ticks,” Jill McAllister, Founder, Tick Awareness Canada.
COCHRANE – Normally at this time of year, Tick Awareness Canada would be busy educating the public on ticks, tick-borne zoonotic illnesses and tick safety through its nationwide campaign.
Typically the non-profit organization delivers presentations to schools, businesses, outdoor workers and enthusiasts, pet owners and others on bite prevention and treatment.
Near the end of February, Tick Awareness Canada launched its first-ever fundraiser, a grocery giveaway, which its founder said is now in jeopardy.
“We were hoping that grocery shopping spree would be our big fundraiser,” said Jill McAllister, the Founder of Tick Awareness Canada. “We have sold less than 25 per cent of the tickets.”
The funds raised will be used to cover the costs of informational pamphlets that are handed out at information sessions and travel costs.
The organization is selling raffle tickets for $10 each. First prize for the draw is a 10-minute, $1,500 shopping spree. Second and third prizes are a $300 Sobeys gift card and a $200 Sobeys gift card respectively. There are only 1,000 raffle tickets available, so chances of winning are high.
“Everybody needs groceries. It would help out so many families, even more so now,” she said. “We thought it was a good, well-rounded event, but COVID has shut us down.”
On a normal year, Tick Awareness Canada would be posted up inside Cabelas, or Bass Pro Shops, teaching sportsmen and sportswomen about tick bite prevention and treatment. With COVID-19 casting an oppressive shadow over regular commerce that has become impossible.
For McAllister, the fight against ticks is a personal one. Her own son was bitten by a tick and is still sick more than a decade later.
“My son was misdiagnosed for seven and a half years. He went through unnecessary brain surgery; he went through unnecessary sinus surgery, so many medications, so many misdiagnoses,” she said.
She believes that if more Canadians are educated on the signs and symptoms of the disease-carrying insects, they can avoid the same hardship that her family went through.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting Tick Awareness Canada’s website and clicking on the contest link at tickawarenesscanada.com.