Riders’ Johnson holds fundraising barbecue for Lyme disease

Jovon Johnson wants to take a bite out of Lyme disease.

While playing in Ottawa, he met a woman who was discharged from the military after being diagnosed with the disease.

Her story inspired him to help her fight for a cure — and became the starting point for Johnson’s fundraising barbecue.

“My ultimate goal is to aid in the research of Lyme disease so that so many people don’t get misdiagnosed and at some point, we can come up with the research to find the actual cure so that people can live a lot longer,” Johnson said.

Johnson has always believed having a sense of community is important, and this is just one more way he’s able to reach out and spend time with the Rider Nation — all while fundraising for a cause he believes in.

“You never know what people are going through and just to see our faces in the community it gives people the opportunity to smile once in a while,” Johnson said.

“Just being a positive influence and role model because we never know who is looking up to us and who we are able to impact or whose day we are able to make better.”

This will be the second year Johnson has hosted the barbecue in Regina’s Candy Cane Park.

The event runs Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and will have food, bouncy castles and games for the kids. A number of Roughrider players will be in attendance as well.

I used to think life was so hard everyday as a kid! When I met a person with Lyme Disease and learned their everyday struggles I realized my life was never really tough. Maybe challenging but these people are true survivors! They are my motivation! #2 #ForTheCause pic.twitter.com/HwTFq2CkgO

— Jovon Johnson (@Mr_Consistent_2) July 25, 2018