Most of you know Ashley van Tol. She is the founder and creator of Lymenaide, she was the brains behind the ‘Paint May Lyme Green’ campaign, she is a frequent writer here on LymeBites, very active on Facebook and Twitter in raising awareness to Lyme disease, she’s the founder of the Lymenaide Awareness Team, and on top of all that she’s also my friend. It’s been almost 6 months since I began working with Ashley on different projects, from writing for her website, to working like crazy all through the month of May to get the PSA’s done, to spread our message, and to be involved in Lyme awareness events from coast to coast. In that 6 months I’ve come to love her like a sister. She inspires me. She is always raising the bar. She is brilliantly creative. And I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do when she puts her mind to it.
Part of what Ashley loves to do is to help do fundraising projects for not-for-profits. At this time neither Lymenaide or LymeBites are not-for-profits, so we joined forces with other Lyme organizations in May to raise money to do the PSA’s. But beyond Lyme Ashley took up a cause in the past few months with the Gulf Spill. She began working with Nani, another team member and craftivist, and began upcyling projects to raise money to help with the Gulf. We are kicking off another upcycling project this fall to benefit Lyme disease, and we’re really excited with all she and Nani are doing for that.
Ashley created another persona for her upcycling projects, and you can follow her adventures on her upcycling blog Ash’s Upcycled Blog.
Right now she is in the middle of a very exciting giveaway, where you can choose your own bag! You can enter as many times as you like, to find out how to enter and read more about it you can check out her post on the project Choose Your Own Bag Giveaway. I encourage you all to check out her amazing stuff and enter the upcoming giveaway. Her products are incredible, individual and make a great gift for your wife or girlfriend (for all you guys out there!!!)
You can also follow Ashley’s upcycling on Twitter @upcycledbyash as well as on Facebook at Upcycled By Ash Facebook Page.
Make sure to enter as many times as you can and increase your chance at winning the bag you choose!!
Way to go Ashley on such a great project and on the giveaway. I already have picked out who I’m going to give it to if I win!
