"I had an exciting life as a zoo keeper, up until some years ago when I became sick." "I was regularly bitten but it was just one of the things that happen when you are around animals every day of your life." What Wendy didn't know at that time is that ticks can carry a cocktail of parasitic bacteria and when they bite, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and start to take over their new home. Borrelia bacteria, which cause Borreliosis, have many strains. Wendy became infected with Borrelia burgdorfei, the cause of Lyme disease.
 | | Wendy Fox |
"I went from working in a demanding and physical job to being reduced to life in a wheelchair, as I am paralysed from the waist down" she says. "I was also recently registered blind. I have a full-time care assistant to look after me while my husband works. My son (who is now sixteen) was three when I was diagnosed and he can’t remember a time when I was well." Living with Lyme Borreliosis, when not treated correctly, can be devastating. It depresses the immune system so that it can spread unchecked, and other infections can also take hold. It can damage the joints, affect memory function, making it impossible to perform many tasks, and it can affect relationships by changing the personality. The list of what this devastating disease can do is endless. As tick numbers have increased dramatically over the last few years the cases of tick-borne disease have also increased in the UK. As there is no vaccine currently available to humans it's a worrying trend. How you can help in Nottinghamshire
 | | Questing female tick |
Wendy is a director and chairperson of BADA-UK (Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness). With the support of her parents who live in Mapperley, BADA-UK aim to set up a Nottingham branch to help educate members of public to stay safe, not only in the countryside, but in city parks, and in their own back gardens. They desperately need volunteers, particularly fund-raisers as most of the members of BADA-UK are physically unable to do this kind of activity. If you want to support Wendy's campaign... To learn more about Borreliosis, please visit www.bada-uk.org. | 
