History of Advocacy

A fter healing from chronic Lyme disease in 2011, Kirk has launched a number of efforts to help others who are suffering from the disease, physically, financially and spiritually.

In 2012, Kirk created the Ticked Off Music Fest to become the only ongoing music series solely focused on Lyme disease education, awareness and fundraising. Its focus is to go to areas where the rate of infection is high but awareness is low. The goal of the concert series is to drive awareness, give tips on prevention, and to educate on the many symptoms of the diseases. It is to also raise funds for a Lyme patient fund developed by its sister organization, Ticked Off Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, EIN: 47-4783824. Since its inception, the Ticked Off Music Fest has partnered with respected Lyme disease support groups, organizers and sponsors to host events in Wilmington, DE, Jacksonville, FL, Annapolis, MD, Los Angeles, CA, Honolulu, HI, Woolwich, ME and Richmond, VA.

In 2015, Kirk founded a nonprofit patient fund and support organization called The Ticked Off Foundation, Inc. It is dedicated to the prevention, awareness, and support for patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses that have become the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the United States. The organization's mission is to provide financial assistance and support to Lyme and tick-borne disease patients over the age of 26 who are in crisis. Ticked Off does this through grants and counseling in an effort to stem the tide of Lyme-related suicides. According to Dr. Joseph Jemsek (MD from Washington, DC), “The most common cause of death in Lyme disease is suicide.” Through its efforts and support through donations and sponsors, Ticked Off Foundation hopes to put this reality in the past.

In 2017, Kirk created and launched LymeKnowledge.com, an easy-to-understand web resource written by him and several Lyme patients to help broadcast the most accurate and up-to-date information on Lyme prevention, symptoms, diagnosis & treatments. The website's facts are sourced from Lyme patients and respected institutions to provide easy-to-understand details that can help a patient navigate through any part of the disease cycle. The site includes updates on the latest treatment protocols, blogs on treatment and supplement details and suggestions on area Lyme-literate doctors.

Also in 2017, Kirk opened the Lyme Recovery Clinic & Detox Center to help those suffering from Lyme disease and other chronic illnesses heal through all-natural, herbal supplements, intensive detox measures, and energy healing & counseling practices. The clinic, located in Darien, CT, is overseen by Kirk, who has been practicing Reiki, Human Tuning, Past-life Regression and Remote Energy Healing for two decades. In 2016, he was trained by Dr. Lee Cowden in the Cowden protocol, an all-herbal Lyme disease treatment with an impressive success record. Ever since Kirk has helped hundreds of Lyme patients across the U.S. understand the intricacies and nuances of the program so they can not only avoid Herxheimer reactions but reach optimal health and ultimate remission.