than usual when it comes to tic,
which raises the risk of getting tick
borne illnesses like Lyme's dis,
especially for kids who might
not know what to look for.
Nonprofit Lyme Awareness Minnes.
Is working on a project to educe
children with two books on tick safety.
They want to get both books into every
elementary school library in the state.
That is a lofty and important g.
Well, founder and executive dirr
Holly Zalenski is here to expla.
Good friend of mine as well.
I'm so glad you're here because
this is such an important effort
for really all of Minnesotans.
I know you have a personal
connection to this mission.
Really,
What got you to start this organization
and to bring awareness to this?
Particular disease, Holly.
Well, thanks for having me today, Carla.
I was I I was a busy mom and business
owner and just living my life.
And all of a sudden,
one day in 20 July of 2015,
I just felt like I got hit by a train.
And 13 months later I was finaly
diagnosed with Lyme disease.
I couldn't. I cut my own food.
I couldn't drive a car.
I couldn't do anything.
It was it was terrible and and
I just knew that I wanted to
do something to make sure that
other people didn't have to go
through what I was going throug.
And
that's so important.
And we talk often in Minnesota
about how at risk we are
because we love our outdoors,
we love our summers especially,
and that's when it's really
we're all at greater risk.
So that I'm so sorry that
you went through that,
but look at you going through it
and now looking to bring awarens
so that others also can avoid t.
So on that point,
your effort right now you're wag
to educate kids of all people,
why children?
Well, kids
are very susceptible to getting Lyme disease
because they're playing in the grass,
they're rolling in the grass.
They're, you know, they're as well as pets.
You know, they're they're just o
into nature, which is wonderful,
and we want to encourage that.
We don't want them to be scared,
but we want to educate them on what to watch
for. So specifically, of course,
you've written these two books d
this is or you you've been promg
these two books. I apologize.
And this is an opportunity realy
for kids to learn more about th.
So can you explain a little bit
about what these books do and
what it will show children at te
youngest ages about really about
what they need to know about ti?
Yes, absolutely.
So Nick the No Good, Icky tick.
Talk is talks about from the tis
perspective on on what you know
how he ends up getting attachedo
this this girl in the book and e
actually gets on the dog first d
then the dog brings the tick in
the house which is very common d
people don't think about that a.
And then she finds it.
They get it off, you know,
It just explains that they
don't need to be scared,
but what to do when they see on.
And the Grayson Scout book is at
a girl that has Lyme disease and
how to be a friend to someone w.
Has it. That is so important.
It also empowers kids to
be vigilant about this as well.
Because parents, we like to think we're
going to catch everything, but we don't
exactly. Parents are busy.
They're doing things, you know,
they know that they should do tk
checks when they come inside,
but they don't always.
And kids analyze every little.
Mark on their body.
You know they'll show you a
minute scratch that they have
and tell you all about it.
So we want them to recognize whn
they have a tick on them or when
they see one on someone else,
because the faster that they remove the tick,
the less chance that they'll.
Get Lyme disease makes
perfect sense. So you are trying to get this
into every elementary school in the state?
Yes? How are you doing on that effort?
How can people support you on that effort?
We want to put them in every elementary
school library because they stae
books stay in elementary school
libraries for years if not deca.
So this will literally impact till 10s
of thousands of children for many years.
And we're we're getting really close to
being able to buy the books and get them out.
Our goal is to have them in
the libraries this fall.
And people can go to limeawarenessmn.com
to donate or we also have a go .
Me as well.
That's fabulous.
And I know you have another opt.
Yeah. Very important.
* tournament. Yes.
Describe that as an opportunity,
right, for people to be
part of this as well.
We're so excited.
We're everyone loves*.
So we're doing a*
tournament at Third Act Craft
Brewery in Woodbury on July 30t,
and people can come up with a
fun team name and register their
teams at our website as well.
Great way to raise money.
And again, awareness, fun
and have fun. Yes, important important point.
Holly, thank you so much.
This is such an important effor.
Thank you for teaching us about
it and of course, letting us knw
how we can support it as well.
So thank you for being here this morning.
Well, the Tick toss* tournament as
Holly mentioned is July 30th in Woodbury.
You can register on their websi.
We do have a link on care11.com.
Thank you again for being here.
Well, coming.