Ride for Lyme goes nationwide

WINNIPEG — Two friends are riding their bikes across Canada to change the way Canadians see Lyme disease.

At the beginning of May, Daniel Corso and Tanner Cookson set out on a journey to bring attention to the debilitating illness, which can be contracted after a bite from an infected tick.

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The duo from Ontario planned their mission after seeing a childhood best friend go from being a marathon runner to crippled by the disease.

“It was disheartening… and then finding out there were thousands of other Canadians who went through the same thing she was going through was kind of the tipping point,” said Corso.

They started in Victoria, B.C. with a goal of reaching St. John’s Newfoundland by July. Winnipeg marks the 20th day of the ride.

In each province they are stopping to meet with doctors, politicians and thousands of Canadian victims affected.

Corso and Cookson are hoping to raise $100,000 to support the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation.

“Right now we are sitting at right under $15,000, so we’re well on our way but definitely have some work to do,” said Corso.