From Wheelchair to Advocacy Leader: How One Woman's Battle With Lyme Disease Sparked a Growing Nonprofit Movement

Jeanette Marie, the 35-year-old founder of LymeLightNow!, turned her harrowing personal battle with severe Lyme disease and co-infections into a mission to educate and support others facing the same fight. Now leading a fully volunteer-run 501(c)(3), she and her team are equipping communities with practical tools and knowledge to combat tick-borne illness. The efforts are especially important, given the sharp rise in tick infestations and reported infections.
Behind every great nonprofit, there is often a deeply personal story. For LymeLightNow!, that story belongs to its founder, Jeanette Marie, a 35-year-old woman whose life was nearly taken by Lyme disease and who has since dedicated herself to making sure others do not face the same battle alone.

Jeanette's experience with Lyme disease was not mild or fleeting. Severe Lyme disease and multiple co-infections left her wheelchair-bound, and she found herself fighting for her life on more than one occasion. The road to recovery was long, isolating, and marked by encounters with a medical system that often struggles to recognize and adequately treat tick-borne illnesses. Through it all, Jeanette gained an education that no classroom could provide, a firsthand understanding of what patients and their families endure when confronted with a diagnosis that many people still do not fully comprehend.

Rather than retreat after regaining her health, Jeanette channeled her experience into action. She founded LymeLightNow!, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families impacted by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Alongside co-founder Robin Schwoyer, she built an organization rooted in grassroots, community-level engagement. Their approach is hands-on, personal, and deeply empathetic, qualities that set LymeLightNow! apart from larger and more impersonal health organizations.

Today the nonprofit operates entirely through the efforts of volunteers who share Jeanette's passion for the cause. Without a single paid employee, LymeLightNow! has managed to develop and distribute Tick ID cards and tick kits to communities across the region. These practical tools help outdoor enthusiasts, families, pet owners, gardeners, hikers, bikers, golfers, and rangers identify ticks accurately and respond appropriately after potential exposure. The kits have proven especially valuable in areas where tick populations have surged in recent years.

Education is the cornerstone of the organization's mission. LymeLightNow! conducts face-to-face outreach at community events, parks, recreational areas, and local gatherings, bringing tick-borne illness awareness directly to the people most at risk. Volunteers share prevention strategies, explain the early warning signs of Lyme disease, and help demystify a condition that is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely. The organization also maintains an active digital presence, ensuring that individuals who cannot attend events in person still have access to critical information and peer support.

The timing of this work could not be more important. Tick season brings renewed urgency each year, and public health experts have noted a trend of expanding tick habitats and increasing case counts of Lyme and related diseases. For people who love the outdoors, whether they are tending a backyard garden, hiking a forest trail, or walking a dog through a neighborhood park, the risk is real and growing.

LymeLightNow! is currently seeking donations and community sponsorships to expand its reach. As a fully volunteer-led operation, every contribution goes directly toward producing educational materials, assembling tick identification kits, and organizing outreach events. The organization welcomes support from individuals, families, local businesses, and civic organizations that want to play a role in protecting their communities.

Jeanette Marie's journey from patient to advocate is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of turning personal adversity into collective good. Under the banner of Shining Light, Sharing Hope, and Taking Action, LymeLightNow! continues to grow, one community conversation, one tick kit, and one supported family at a time.

CONTACT: https://LymeLightNow.com

https://www.instagram.com/lymelightnow/

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Company Name: LymeLightNow.com
Contact Person: Robin V Schwoyer
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Website: https://LymeLightNow.com

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