Two young men are on the road across Canada on bicycles to raise awareness of Lyme Disease.
Daniel Corso and Tanner Cookson were through Drumheller last Thursday afternoon. The two St. Catherines Ontario natives began the journey from Victoria on May 11 and along the way are getting people to notice Lyme Disease.
The two are doing the ride in dedication of one of their friends, 24-year-old Adeline Nohara, who has chronic Lyme Disease. Her story is painfully similar to many fighting Lyme.
“She went through 18 different doctors, over two years, getting misdiagnosed and bouncing around, going from one sure thing to another and nothing was working, she was getting worse and worse,” explains Daniel.
She finally was diagnosed in the United States explains Daniel.
“She has been getting worse over the last few years, and I really wanted to do something for her,” said Daniel. “I had been researching Lyme and began to discover that Adeline was not the only one,” said Daniel. “There are a lot more Canadians like her especially.”
This inspiration to help meshed with another interest, to ride across the country. He pitched the idea to long time friend, Tanner and he didn’t hesitate. In four months, they were ready to go.
They have been travelling at a strong clip, averaging about 140 kilometres a day. The pair was well equipped to take on the challenge both are avid rowers and were physically prepared for the ride. Daniel’s father Lawrence is driving the pilot camper and keeping them fed and taken care of.
Starting the ride, they had no idea of the scope of what they were getting themselves into. By Day 11, they had only spent a couple nights in the camper, and have been greeted by groups in almost every community. They have been generous to the riders in hosting receptions and arranging accommodation. In Drumheller, the Lymelight Society treated the crew to dinner at the Last Chance Saloon and arranged accommodation.
“It is pretty special just to meet the people we are trying to help,” said, Daniel, “and seeing the reaction from them, of two people who are not directly affected by it, who are trying to help.”
They have set a goal to raise $100,000 for the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. But just as important is the awareness.
“It is also raising awareness and ultimately getting the attention of politicians and health care officials that can do something about it. If they are able to catch wind of this, the $100,000 we raise will be nothing compared to the millions that the government and health care system puts into it,” said Daniel.
They are scheduled to conclude the ride on July 8 in St. John’s Newfoundland.
