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5th Grader Challenges Hickenlooper To Take Bite Out Of Lyme Disease

DENVER (CBS4)- Gov. John Hickenlooper openly puckered up at the state Capitol on Tuesday after completing the "Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease" challenge.

Fifth grader Olivia Goodreau challenged the governor as part of her campaign to raise awareness about Lyme disease.

Gov Lyme Disease2
(credit: CBS)

The ticks that spread the infection aren't found in Colorado, but Lyme disease affects about 300,000 people in the U S every year.

It's something Olivia knows all too well. She started experiencing symptoms in the second grade.

"I was losing my vision. My face was turning really pale and sometimes I would feel like I had the flu," said Olivia.

Olivia Goodreau
Olivia Goodreau (credit: CBS)

It took 40 doctors and 18 months to get the correct diagnosis.

Olivia takes nine pills twice a day and assorted herbal remedies. She's a lot better, but not back to normal.

"They do not have a cure for Lyme disease," said the now-5th grader.

Gov Lyme Disease 4
(credit: CBS)

On Tuesday, Hickenlooper agreed to join Olivia in literally taking a bite out of a lime as part of her mission to educate others about the disease. They both bit into a lime slice gleefully and smiled, despite the sour taste.

Olivia has made Lyme disease education her cause. She developed a tick kit with a classmate. She challenges people to take a bite out of a real lime to raise awareness and funding for better diagnosis and treatment. The Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease Challenge kicked off in March and is ongoing. For more information, go to lymediseasechallenge.org/join-lyme-disease-challenge.

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