What started as a hiking trip in South Africa turned into a years-long medical journey for Gregory Maassen, who now channels his experience with a rare nerve condition into cross-country cycling adventures to raise awareness and funds for research. In 2017, Maassen encountered a nest of 70 to 80 ticks while hiking in South Africa. The initial symptoms seemed temporary, but the pain returned with a vengeance. “When I was hiking in South Africa, I ran into a nest of ticks, maybe 70 or 80 ticks and I didn’t feel good for a week. My whole body was burning, but then it went away so I didn’t think too much about it,” Maassen said.
