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DATELINE NBC’S CHRIS HANSEN TO EMCEE APRIL 2^ND GALA

TIME FOR LYME® ROCKS MIAMI’S SOUTH BEACH

 

Additional Sponsors on Board for Event to Honor Author Amy Tan and

Raise Funds for the Columbia University Medical Center Lyme Disease Research Center 

And Education/Prevention Programs

 

   GREENWICH, Conn., February 24, 2005- Time For Lyme, Inc®, a nonprofit Lyme disease prevention, education, research and advocacy network, announced that Dateline NBC’s Chris Hansen will serve as the emcee for its upcoming benefit Time for Lyme® Rocks Miami’s South Beach. The event is the organization’s fourth gala to raise funds for the Columbia University Medical Center Lyme Disease Research Center, as well as for Time For Lyme’s Lyme disease education and prevention programs. The event will take place on Saturday evening, April 2^nd at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut, beginning at 6 p.m.

Nationally recognized author, Amy Tan, who has written about her personal struggle with chronic Lyme disease, will attend the event to accept the Time For Lyme Public Awareness Award for her efforts to raise awareness of this devastating illness. Tan chronicled her battle with Lyme disease, including the difficulty she had having her worsening symptoms diagnosed, in her book, The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings. Today, she deals with disease as she continues to write and raise awareness of the disease.

            Chris Hansen is a correspondent for NBC's award-winning newsmagazine Dateline NBC.  He also substitutes as anchor for the weekend edition of Nightly News. Recently, he played a significant role in Dateline's coverage of the war on terror and homeland security issues during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hansen and his wife Mary Jo are Stamford residents and are active in community events.        

            “Our emcee and honoree have high profiles, as does Lyme disease itself -- a major epidemic with particular significance in this area,” said event co-chair Lynda Withiam. “Everyone involved in this effort is grateful to them and to all of our new corporate sponsors for helping us get closer to meeting our goals.”

Withiam said that, in addition to other sponsors announced earlier, a number of new companies have come on board, including: Crane Foundation, Inc.; CRT Capital Group, LLC; Igenex Inc; MBI, Inc; and Subaru Distributors Corp.

Time For Lyme is continuing its efforts to raise $3 million to endow the research center at Columbia University. To date, it has contributed more than $1 million toward the center. 

            Ken Bacco of New Canaan and William Bainbridge Steele of Greenwich are also co-chairs of the event, which includes a cocktail reception and gourmet dinner, a live and silent auction, and dazzling entertainment and dancing  -- all with a South Beach, Miami theme.

Chronic Lyme disease has affected Bacco, Steele and Withiam or members of their families, like many involved in the organization. The disease is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases today, constituting an epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in the year 2002 alone, a 40 percent increase in cases occurred nationwide, and scientists believe that reported cases may represent only as little as ten percent of actual cases. New York State reports the highest number of Lyme disease cases nationally and Connecticut has the highest infection rate per capita. Fairfield County and Westchester Counties are particularly hard hit.

 The Columbia University Medical Center Lyme Disease Research Center is the first facility

in the world focused on chronic Lyme disease. Brian Fallon, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, serves as director of the research center. Dr. Fallon works closely with Time For Lyme and will also participate in the evening’s program.

Tickets for Time for Lyme® Rocks Miami’s South Beach begin at $300, with various levels of support and corporate sponsorships available. For tickets and information call 203-969-1333.

About Time For Lyme, Inc.

Time For Lyme, Inc. is a nonprofit Lyme disease prevention, research, education and advocacy organization headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. The organization is dedicated to funding research that will find ways to prevent the development of chronic Lyme disease and to find answers for those with late stage Lyme disease. Since its inception in 1998, Time For Lyme, Inc. (formerly the Greenwich Lyme Disease Task Force) has grown from a local grass-roots movement to a national profile.