Our Be Tick Aware campaign aims to raise awareness of how to prevent tick bites, how to safely remove ticks, and the importance of early treatment for people who become unwell, following a bite.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, usually caused by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks can be found in every county across the UK and can be as small as poppy seeds, so can easily be missed. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or you own a pet, you may be at higher risk of being bitten.
Raising awareness of Lyme disease is of the utmost importance, as a late diagnosis or misdiagnosis can lead to serious long-term health problems, including neurological and cardiac issues.
Whether you’re a member of the public, an outdoor organisation, or a Lyme disease patient, there are many ways you can help to raise awareness.
1. Join in on social media!
We would love for you to help us spread awareness online by sharing our posts! Whichever platform you use, we know social media is an amazing tool for raising awareness far and wide. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and BlueSky. Looking for inspiration? A good place to start is by sharing our prevention post on Facebook.
Follow us to share our posts and help your friends and followers to Be Tick Aware. Remember to use the hashtag #BeTickAware so that we can share your posts.
2. Share our awareness materials
Our awareness posters, leaflets, and tick cards can be downloaded and shared via email, social media, or newsletter. They can also be printed off at home.
Limited numbers of hard copies of awareness packs are available but when they’re gone, they’re gone! To avoid disappointment order your awareness pack soon!
You can also check out our online shop for Be Tick Aware branded clothing. Or simply order a mug, lapel pin, other accessories or a pet bandana to show your support.
3. Get together to raise awareness and funds!
Why not organise a meet-up, coffee morning or bake sale with friends, family, a local group or at your workplace?Hosting an event is a fun way to raise funds and awareness! There are some great ideas on our fundraising page.
Check out our downloadable posters, cake flags, donation jar labels, invitations and bunting. A great help in making your event a success!
You can order our awareness information for a fundraising or awareness event and we will post this out to you for free! Don’t forget, we can also send you a free selfie frame, running vest, and fundraising bucket to help you look the part and make your day really special!
4. Share your patient story with the press or media
If you’re a Lyme disease patient and want to help raise awareness, one of the most powerful ways we can do this is by sharing our stories with the press and media. Together, we could reach millions with our vital messages.
Please send your Lyme patient story to our Press and Community Outreach Manager, Julia Knight. We can help you to edit your story, add key facts, and provide images of ticks and tick tools.
5. Write to your GP, pharmacist, or other health professionals
Please write to your GP, pharmacist, or other health professionals and ask them to take the RCGP e-learning course on Lyme disease.
You could also ask if they’d be open to displaying our awareness materials. Show your health professional this QR code which they can scan to order their own awareness pack, or send them this awareness pack order form link.
*Healthcare professionals – please visit our clinicians hub and resources for pharmacy teams page for more information.
6. Take part in our campaign for schools
We would be thrilled if schools could take part in our Be Tick Aware campaign! Tick awareness activities can be incorporated into lesson planning and assemblies.
If you’re a parent of a school-aged child, you can also help! We would be grateful if you could share the link to our campaign with your child’s school and encourage them to take part. Our schools page contains all of the information you need to get involved!
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading how to take part in our Be Tick Aware campaign! We hope you’ve stumbled across an idea that has sparked your interest and together, we can help to spread awareness and prevent future cases of Lyme disease.
