Celebrity Avril Lavigne Launches Campaign to Fight Lyme Disease The singer is raising funds through the Avril Lavigne Foundation to support children and young adults who have Lyme disease By Melody Chiu Melody Chiu Instagram Twitter Melody Chiu is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE. She has been with the brand since 2009, editing, writing and reporting across all entertainment verticals. She oversees PEOPLE's music and events coverage and has written cover stories on Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Melissa McCarthy, Blake Shelton and Sandra Oh. The Los Angeles native graduated from the University of Southern California and has appeared on Extra!, The Talk, Access Hollywood and Good Morning America. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 28, 2015 05:35 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Avril Lavigne is still battling Lyme disease – and now the singer is helping others struggling with the disease as well. The singer marked her 31st birthday Sunday by launching a 5-week campaign through the Avril Lavigne Foundation to raise funds and awareness for children and young adults who have Lyme disease. Teaming up with digital fundraising platform Prizeo, Lavigne will spend time with a grand prize winner who will also have a speaking role in her new animated film Charming. “I’m excited that this year’s campaign is supporting people with Lyme disease and helping others to better understand this issue,” she said in statement. “My fans are always so supportive and ready to give back; I look forward to coming together for an issue that’s so close to me.” Avril Lavigne Suffers from Lyme Disease: Things to Know about the Illness Lavigne – who announced her split from husband Chad Kroeger in September – opened up about struggling with the debilitating disease in April exclusively to PEOPLE. “I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk and I couldn’t move,” she said at the time. “I thought I was dying.”