The Ryan Guerin Fund
is a special fund that helps financially
needy Lyme disease patients who require diagnostic testing for
tick-borne illnesses, to be able to afford them when they otherwise cannot. Monies are paid to the patients in the form of a
grant, from this fund. Donations are sent to patients
with financial need.
Right: Ryan Guerin. Reprinted courtesy of the Guerin Family.
To apply for a grant, please send a detailed email describing your financial need and indicate the contact information for your Lyme treating physician to: pj@allegorypress.com. All information will be kept confidential. Nothing is shared or sold to any third parties.
The fund was established in honor of a young North Carolina Lyme patient named Ryan Guerin, who died of Lyme disease. Ryan served in the U.S. Navy in the first Persian Gulf War. Ryan fought courageously, but because he was not diagnosed early enough in his illness, he never had a chance to regain his health.
Author, advocate and
Lyme patient PJ Langhoff, and founder of this fund had to wait NEARLY 13 years before any doctor
would even agree to test her and her children for Lyme disease and other tick-borne
infections. To add insult to injury, she was outraged when insurance refused to pay
for expensive, but necessary Lyme diagnostic testing. Due to a lack of
money, PJ was forced to pick and choose between laboratory tests that
she could afford, delaying her diagnosis and recovery for several
years.
As an advocate, PJ learned of similar problems with patients who could
no longer work due to their illness, and whom could not afford to pay
for doctor visits, lab testing, or treatments. Disgusted from her own,
and the experiences of other Lyme patients having to choose between
essentials like food and housing, versus paying for medical care, PJ established
the fund so that financially needy patients
could move forward with necessary tests, and so they could be diagnosed and
treated, instead of simply remaining ill because like PJ, they had no
money.
In 2008, following the publication of PJ's "It's All In Your Head" book series on Lyme disease, the Ryan Guerin Fund was established. Proceeds of the sale of these and other books and merchandise designed by PJ go into this special patient fund. PJ is working hard and hopes to make this fund a non-profit organization soon. Please be patient, she is only 1 person.
Anyone may apply for financial assistance, in any part of the United States. Grant funds are directly dependant upon donations received, so please give generously. If you would like to become part of the Ryan Guerin team, please contact PJ at PJ@allegorypress.com We can link the web site with yours and help you collect funds and make money for your group or organization in the process.
A lack of funds and/or insurance coverage should NEVER stop an ill patient from receiving an early diagnosis. Please give generously so that people with Lyme disease (like Ryan), may be given a fighting chance, before it's too late.
Who Qualifies?
Any
patient who may have,
or who has Lyme disease
or other tick-borne illness
What Tests
Qualify?
Any Western Blot test
to rule out Lyme disease except
for the ELISA test;
or
any tests to screen for
co-infections,
and any other tests that are applicable
to Lyme disease diagnosis or treatment.
How Much is
Granted?
That depends upon need
and available funds.
Only one grant award per family
per year.
*Awards are issued
upon funds available.
Please
give generously so
we may
help others receive treatment.
Ask for Grant
pj@allegorypress.com