Teenagers Tanner McMillan and friend Ed Blandford have just completed a a remarkable week-long walk along the 90 Mile Beach raising close to $180,000 for the Lyme Disease Association of Australia (LDAA).
Lyme disease patient Tanner has made it his mission to shine a light on the disease in Australia after he was bitten by a tick at age 11 and began suffering immense pain while falling in and out of consciousness.
Now 17, the go-getting Tanner has certainly opened they eyes of East Gippslanders and Australians further afield with the Epic Hike for Lyme.
“Now, I want to ensure that no other child in Australia has to experience what I did, the lack of recognition,
testing and treatment of Lyme disease in this country,” Tanner said.
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His father Ryan said the walk “exceeded all expectations and is so humbling”.
“The Lyme Disease Association of Australia are amazed, they’ve never had this volume of funding,” he said.”It will be used for research, projects and development of a case to put to a Senate Enquiry.
“The people in the Lyme Disease Association of Australia are volunteers so this will make a real difference, helping mentor sufferers, their parents etc.”
As of Monday the walk had raised a phenomenal $178,327 with donations from corporations and companies large and small.
“The LDAA were floored when an anonymous donor who had Lyme Disease said she would donate double what they received in 48 hours, which was $6500. She then said she would make it up to $100,000. She wants to change things for everybody,” Ryan said.
There were 30 to 40 people who met Tanner and Ed at the entrance to walk the last leg to the Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club last Saturday and 100 people attended the function following the walk, which was opportunity for Tanner and his family to thank everyone for their donations and support.
“The speeches were very emotional,” Ryan said.
“It was like a full circle for Tanner as when he was sick he vowed if he got better he would give back to those researching a cure for Lyme Disease.
“While Tanner was sick the surf club kept him involved, they were very nurturing and gave him a purpose when things were really bad.
“His sister Eden is the captain at the club and Tanner is a junior captain.”
While on the walk Tanner and Ed had a visit from the police boat, a fly over from the RAAF fighter jet and members of the public who walked over to encourage them.
The message is public awareness about what Lyme Disease is as Tanner and his family had to battle through the doubters in the medical system.
