Mount Pleasant Music Festival Raises Awareness for Lyme Disease

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) – As temperatures rise, so does tick activity, prompting a local woman to combat the threat of Lyme disease through a unique music festival. Sarah Bolden launched Lyme-A-Palooza to educate the public about ticks and support Lyme disease research, making its debut Saturday outside Mainland Container Co. Kitchen and Bar.

The festival featured live music, local vendors, and educational booths aimed at raising awareness about the dangers posed by ticks, which, according to The South Carolina Department of Public Health, are most active from March to November. Bolden’s motivation stems from her own experience; 12 years ago, she was bitten by a tick, leading to years of misdiagnoses and limited treatment options.

Attendees included Meghan Bradshaw, a Lyme disease survivor, who shared her struggles and the socioeconomic challenges associated with living with the disease. Bradshaw, who experienced a decade-long search for a diagnosis, was misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and underwent multiple surgeries. “One of the challenging things is that this is a largely invisible illness,” Bradshaw said, emphasizing the difficulties faced by those with symptoms that fluctuate in intensity.

By age 26, Bradshaw had undergone her tenth joint replacement due to the effects of Lyme disease. “Following that, I learned that I had Lyme and tick-borne diseases,” she recounted. Her testimony highlights the broader issue of delayed diagnosis and the need for greater public awareness about tick-borne illnesses.

Dr. Penni Vachon, a nurse practitioner specializing in Lyme disease treatment at Lowcountry Wellness Center, noted the rising number of Lyme disease cases in South Carolina. “If we just look at the statistics in America that say that approximately over 80% of Americans have Lyme disease, then there would be approximately about 800 patients in my practice with Lyme disease,” she stated. Vachon explained that Lyme disease diagnosis often requires a nuanced understanding of symptoms, which can vary widely among individuals.

Vachon also advocated for greater awareness of the disease, pointing out that “It’s a vector-borne illness; it comes from anything that draws blood, including ticks and mosquitoes.”

As the festival concluded, it was reported that over $2,600 had been raised for Project Lyme, surpassing Bolden’s original goal of $2,000. “We’ve got to spread the news; everybody needs to know because it truly impacts everybody,” Vachon asserted.

Bradshaw and Vachon reminded festival-goers of the importance of precautionary measures as they enjoy the warmer weather. “Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed,” Bradshaw warned, urging people to thoroughly check themselves and their pets after outdoor activities.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health indicates that symptoms of Lyme disease can include fever, fatigue, headache, and a characteristic bull’s-eye rash. With tick populations increasing due to factors like deforestation, the urgency for awareness campaigns, such as Lyme-A-Palooza, remains critical.