Striking Out Lyme: A Pitcher’s Mission to Raise Awareness

Baseball has always been a huge part of Kolten’s life. Growing up in Ocala, Florida, he started playing baseball when he was just five years old and never looked back. As he got older, Kolten honed my skills and focused on pitching in college, where he now plays D1 baseball with the University of Georgia.

But beyond baseball, there’s another battle that has deeply affected his family—one that has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with health. Kolten’s mom, Bonnie, has been fighting Lyme disease since he was in middle school. Before she got sick, neither of them had even heard of Lyme disease. That all changed when she started experiencing severe symptoms that no one could seem to explain.

A Misdiagnosed Journey

Bonnie first started feeling unwell in 2019, after a known tick bite, including symptoms of severe fatigue, weakness, and bone pain. After she developed serious cardiac symptoms approximately a week later, she went to the emergency room in Florida. Despite repeatedly telling doctors about her recent tick bite, she was told it could not be Lyme based upon outdated misconceptions about prevalence of Lyme in Florida as well as the false belief that a tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit infections. Those unfortunate, inexcusable, moments of dismissal set off years of frustration, and trial-and-error treatments. In addition to Lyme disease, ticks in Florida may transmit other infections such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, and tick-borne relapsing fever.

Ultimately, Bonnie tested positive for Lyme disease approximately four months later after receiving a referral to a knowledgeable provider. Due to the delays in diagnosis and treatment, she has struggled to find effective therapies. Some approaches have helped, but her symptoms come in waves—some days are good, others are much harder. Kolten states “the unpredictability of Lyme disease has made the journey difficult, but she keeps fighting. And thankfully, today, she’s doing much better overall. Still, we know there’s a long road ahead, and that’s why I decided to do something about it.”

The Birth of #StrikeOutLyme

Kolten started the #StrikeOutLyme campaign to raise awareness—not just for his mom, but for the millions of people affected by Lyme disease. If sharing her story and using his platform can help others, then something good can come out of our experience.

Through conversations with people he trusted, Kolten was introduced to Project Lyme, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to education, prevention, and research. Project Lyme’s mission aligned perfectly with what he wanted to accomplish, making us the perfect partner for this initiative.

How You Can Help

The #StrikeOutLyme campaign is simple: for every strikeout Kolten throws, we encourage people to donate a set amount— such as $5 per strike out, or to make a one time donation. Every contribution helps fund awareness efforts, research, and support for those battling Lyme disease. Kolten himself has pledged $10 per strikeout.

Every contribution helps fund awareness efforts, research, and support for those battling Lyme disease.

If you’d like to get involved, you can make a pledge per strikeout or donate directly to Project Lyme via this link. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against Lyme disease.

Are you a baseball player or the parent of a player who wants to participate in the #StrikeOutLyme campaign? Reach out to info@projectlyme.org to learn how to get involved!

This is more than just a baseball season—it’s a mission. Every pitch, every strikeout, and every donation brings us one step closer to better treatments, better awareness, and better outcomes for those suffering from tick-borne illnesses, including Kolten’s mom. To learn more about Lyme disease and co-infections or to search for a provider, go to projectlyme.org.

Let’s #StrikeOutLyme together!