Created in response to community requests for an affordable gathering, the event brought patients, advocates, supporters, and organizations together in a relaxed setting. For us, it was an opportunity to reconnect with friends, meet more members of our community, and continue conversations that often begin through the Tick Boot Camp podcast.

An Affordable Lyme Community Meetup in NYC

Ticked Together NYC took place at American Whiskey, 247 West 30th Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets were $30 and included light bites and soft drinks, helping make an evening in Manhattan more approachable.

The intention was simple: give people affected by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases space to talk casually, exchange resources, support one another’s healing journeys, and explore ways to get involved in advocacy. The gathering offered an opportunity to build relationships beyond screens and social media.

Four Hosts Bringing Personal Experience and Advocacy Together

Our friends and former podcast guests Monica Cipriani, Nicole O’Donnell, Jasmin Perdomo, and Kristen Harris hosted the evening, together with Global Lyme Alliance.

Monica Cipriani: Research, Education, and Shared Experiences

Monica Cipriani is an epidemiologic researcher and PhD candidate whose mother’s Lyme experience inspired her commitment to tick-borne disease research and advocacy. Our connection with Monica extends well beyond this event. She has joined us for an in-studio podcast interview, participated in a tick drag on Long Island with us, and shared her knowledge through our ongoing conversations about ticks, prevention, and the people affected by these illnesses. Explore our interviews and activities with Monica Cipriani.

Nicole O’Donnell: Resilient Hope and a Personal Connection

Nicole O’Donnell, author of Resilient Hope: A Memoir of Life With Chronic Illness, has shared her experiences with Lyme disease and Long COVID while amplifying the voices of others navigating chronic illness. Tick Boot Camp co-founder Matt Sabatello was featured in her book and first met Nicole in person at her Resilient Hope book launch in Manhattan. Reconnecting at her restaurant for Ticked Together NYC continued that shared commitment to storytelling, friendship, and helping people feel less alone.

Jasmin Perdomo: Finding Voice Through Poetry

Jasmin Perdomo, author of bittersweet body: a poetic memoir, gives voice to the emotional realities of chronic illness through poetry. She previously joined us in the Tick Boot Camp studio to share her story and discuss her book in Episode 566: When Lyme Disease Steals Your Identity—How Poetry Helped Jasmin Perdomo Heal. Her work offers another way for people to recognize their own experiences and feel understood.

Kristen Harris: Patient Support, Education, and an Upcoming Studio Update

Kristen Harris is Director of Global Lyme Alliance’s Peer-to-Peer Support Program and Education and Grant Program Manager. She brings both her own Lyme journey and her work connecting patients with support and educational resources. Kristen first shared her story with Tick Boot Camp in Episode 284: Post-Traumatic Growth—An Interview With Kristen Harris, released on July 16, 2022. We will be welcoming her to the studio soon for an updated, in-person podcast interview and look forward to continuing that conversation.

The venue made the evening especially personal: American Whiskey is our friend Nicole O’Donnell’s restaurant. We are grateful to Nicole and all the hosts for putting their time and energy into creating a welcoming place for the community.

Dylan Dinolfo: From GLA First Round to an Upcoming Podcast Interview

We were glad to reconnect with Dylan Dinolfo, a member of Global Lyme Alliance’s NextGen Junior Board, where he serves alongside our friend Christina Kovacs, the board’s chair. We first met Dylan at GLA First Round at Hard Rock Cafe Times Square, the community gathering held the night before the 2026 Global Lyme Alliance Gala. Seeing him again at Ticked Together NYC reflected how those first introductions can grow into ongoing connections across the Lyme community.

Before Ticked Together NYC, we also recorded a detailed, long-form Tick Boot Camp podcast interview with Dylan. The episode is coming soon, and we look forward to sharing that conversation with our community. Watch our podcast page for its release.

Patient Support, Mentorship, and Lyme Advocacy

Among the advocates we connected with was David Butler of Project Lyme, who hosts the organization’s men’s virtual support group. His involvement was a reminder that connection can continue between in-person events through spaces where people share experiences and support one another.

Also attending was Kurt Borowsky, a Global Lyme Alliance Ambassador whose patient story was featured at this year’s GLA Gala. Fellow GLA Ambassadors Mateo Lynch and Mark Fischer, who are mentored by Kurt, were part of the gathering as well.

We were also glad to connect with Claudia Ercolano and Elizabeth Ercolano, Lyme disease advocates and supporters. Bringing people with different experiences together creates opportunities to learn from one another and find shared purpose.

Veterinarians and Patients Join the Conversation

Wendy Powell, DVM, John Powell, DVM, and Jason Haden, DVM—Lyme-literate veterinarians—also attended, adding members of the veterinary community to an evening of connection around tick-borne illness.

Christina Hobson, a Lyme patient and advocate, traveled from New Jersey to be there. Her participation reflected the desire for opportunities to meet face to face, hear others’ experiences, and feel part of a community.

Tick Boot Camp co-founders Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen attended to support our friends and spend time with the people behind the stories. Our advocacy platform grew from our own Lyme journeys, and these connections remain central to why we do this work.

A Message From Around the World: We Need More Local Lyme Gatherings

The response extended far beyond the people who could attend in Manhattan. Patients and supporters across the United States and around the world reached out through comments, direct messages, and email asking for more gatherings in their own communities.

We heard from people in places including Istanbul, Turkey; Galicia, Spain; South Carolina; Pennsylvania; New Jersey; and other communities. Some wanted to meet others nearby. Others explained that illness, travel, cost, evening schedules, or larger crowds made attending difficult. Those messages deserve to shape how future gatherings are planned.

We encourage local advocates, patient groups, organizations, and community spaces to consider creating their own opportunities to connect. A small daytime meetup, an affordable casual gathering, or a virtual conversation can offer a starting point. Clear information about seating, accessibility, cost, and timing can help people decide what works for them.

Keep the Connections Going

Thank you to Monica, Nicole, Jasmin, Kristen, Global Lyme Alliance, and everyone who helped bring Ticked Together NYC to life. The evening reflected something we hear repeatedly in patient stories: being understood matters, and community can help people hold onto hope.

For more voices and experiences from the Lyme community, explore our patient and advocate interviews and our coverage of the ILADS 2026 conference. We conduct virtual and in-person podcast interviews to help people feel heard, share useful perspectives, and model the possibility of moving forward.

Where would you like to see a Lyme community gathering? Share your city and whether you would attend—or help organize—an event near you. Connection should be within reach wherever our community lives.