Oceanside Kiwanis fundraiser supports children with Lyme disease

The Oceanside Kiwanis Club hosted its annual “Take a Bite Out of Lyme” fundraiser at J. Paul’s Terrace Café, raising money and awareness for the Kiwanis Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation.

The May 8 community event featured raffles, live music and the fundraiser’s signature activity: a $10 donation in exchange for a shot — traditionally tequila, though additional options such as Jameson and vodka were available — followed by a bite of a lime wedge.

According to chairman and longtime Kiwanis member Nancy Baxter, the fundraiser began about seven years ago after the Oceanside club became more involved with the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, a New York District Kiwanis initiative founded by former Gov. John Gridley.

Gridley, who died last month, created the foundation after witnessing the financial and emotional strain Lyme disease placed on a family he knew whose daughter was battling the illness.

“The main mission is helping children,” Baxter said. “We want to help families that are in need and help children that are suffering.”

The Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation assists families struggling with the high costs of treatment, which are often not fully covered by insurance. Rather than giving money directly to families, the foundation works with doctors, pharmacies and medical providers to reduce bills and cover necessary expenses, including medications and medical equipment.

Since its creation, the foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for pediatric treatment.

Baxter said Joe Bonin, owner of J. Paul’s, has played a major role in the event’s success by allowing the Kiwanis Club to set up outside the restaurant each year and contributing donations to the cause.

“He’s a great community-minded person,” Baxter said. “There’s always fundraisers at the restaurant, and he’s always willing to help.”

Although this year’s fundraiser brought in slightly less than its typical $1,500, Baxter said the community’s generosity remained strong. Some residents donated without participating in the shots, while others stayed to enjoy the music and raffles.

The fundraiser also ties into larger Lyme disease awareness efforts throughout Oceanside. Students at School No. 2 recently hosted their own lemonade stand fundraiser supporting the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation.

Kiwanis leaders said events like “Take a Bite Out of Lime” are important not only for fundraising, but for education the public about the dangers of Lyme disease, which is spread through infected deer ticks and can cause serious neurological and physical complications if left untreated.

“People think Lyme disease isn’t around here, but it is,” Baxter said. “You never know what someone else is going through, even in your own community.”