No official health bodies warn of the disease being transmitted in utero, but some doctors believe it is possible there are children infected in this way

The debilitating bacterial infection is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks

The star vowed to 'walk to the end of the earth to find a cure' to help Bella, 18, and Anwar, 16 and other sufferers

Revealed her two youngest children were also diagnosed in 2012

Yolanda, 51, was honoured at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in New York

U.S. reality star Yolanda Foster has revealed her children Bella, 18, and Anwar Hadid, 16, have been secretly battling Lyme disease for over three years.

The 51-year-old, who was diagnosed with the debilitating condition in 2012, was honoured at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in New York City on Thursday, telling the audience her 'babies have been struggling in silence' with the disease.

Addressing the crowd in an emotional speech, Yolanda said: 'When my two youngest children, Bella and Anwar, were also diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in early 2012, watching my babies struggle in silence in order to support me in my journey, struck the deepest core of hopelessness inside of me.'

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected blacklegged ticks, which are found in woodland areas and on pets. When ticks bite into human skin, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi infects the person’s body.

Sufferers usually experience a circular rash, muscle pain, joint pain and flu-like symptoms after infection. And left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and central nervous system.

The news comes just weeks after British Phones 4U billionaire John Caudwell revealed the condition has ripped through his entire family, affecting himself, his ex-wife and their three children.

The two high-profile cases on both sides of the Atlantic are certain to reignite the medical debate whether or not the disease could be genetic.

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Emotional: Yolanda Foster has revealed her children Bella (pictured) and Anwar Hadid have been secretly suffering from Lyme disease for over three years

Battle: Anwar and Bella, pictured on Thursday at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala, have been diagnosed with Lyme disease, just like their mother Yolanda

Seeking a cure: Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Yolanda was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 and has pledged to find a cure for her children

While Yolanda has not revealed exactly how or when she contracted the disease, in January this year she wrote in a blog post that: 'I wasted the first year trying to get diagnosed and spent the next two trying to find a cure.'

Caused by bacteria, Lyme disease can often be treated if caught early, but Yolanda is struggling with harsher symptoms because she was not diagnosed for around a year.

If left untreated, it can cause severe and long-lasting symptoms including arthritis, meningitis, numbness in the limbs, paralysis of the facial muscles, memory problems and heart failure.

Some people even go on to develop long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Medical literature states that the disease can be treated with antibiotics, and if particularly severe, a specialist might prescribe antibiotic injections.

Telecom tycoon Caudwell strongly believes the disease is endemic, arguing that if an entire family like his can be infected, the disease must be both sexually transmitted and passed from mother to child in utero, and - furthermore - that it could be the root cause of multiple other illnesses including ME, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

Big hug: Yolanda's youngest child Anwar, 16, received a big hug from his mother at the gala which proved to be an emotional night for the whole family

Close connection: Bella, 18, also received a warm embrace from Yolanda as she vowed to continue her fight to find a cure

Sad news: Yolanda was honoured at the Global Lyme Alliance Inaugural Gala in New York City on Thursday, where she revealed her children (pictured with eldest daughter Gigi, 20) were battling the disease

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. Those that carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are found throughout the UK and in other parts of Europe and North America. The parasites can be found anywhere from remote moorland to urban gardens and prefer moist areas such as long grasses or under leaves. No official health bodies warn of the disease being transmitted in utero, but some doctors believe it is possible there are children infected in this way- and indeed, British billionaire John Caudwell believes his family may have contracted the condition through this route. Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around 3 to 30 days after being bitten. Some also experience flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as tiredness, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, fever, chills and neck stiffness. More serious symptoms may develop several weeks, months or even years later if Lyme disease is left untreated or is not treated early. These include pain and swelling of the joints, problems affecting the nervous system - including numbness and pain in the limbs - facial paralysis, memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Lyme disease can also lead to heart problems such as myocarditis, where the heart muscle becomes inflamed and heart failure. Meningitis is also a risk. A small minority of people go on to develop long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, called post-infectious Lyme disease. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

In September, Caudwell, who is one of the richest men in Britain, announced that his son Rufus, 20, daughters Rebekah, 35, and Rhiannon, 27, and ex-wife Kathryn McFarlane, whom he divorced in 2001, have all tested positive for the disease.

The 62-year-old said: It’s completely devastating. I have no idea how it’s happened to my family.

‘When I heard my son had Lyme disease, it was after nine years of his suffering — with no symptoms that were obviously Lyme disease. It mimics other illnesses.

‘It suggests it could be congenital or transmitted person to person.’

However there is no evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted from person-to-person, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

‘A person cannot get infected from touching, kissing, or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease,’ its website states.

While no official health bodies warn of the disease being transmitted in utero or through breastfeeding, some doctors, such as Dr Charles Jones, of LymeDisease.org, believes there are some children who were infected these ways.

Another high-profile victim was the British survival guru Ray Mears.

In 2011, he revealed how a tick bite led to a 14-year battle with Lyme disease that nearly ended his career.

Mears, who has presented TV shows such as Survival and Wild Britain, described how the bite led to excruciating back pain.

‘It was so bad that if I sneezed I almost blacked out with the pain,’ he said.

‘I was getting to the point where I was going to have to think about doing something different for work.’

For Yolanda, watching her family be diagnosed with the disease prompted her to raise awareness of the condition, while also seeking treatment.

Her eldest daughter, model Gigi, 20, presented the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star with the Power Of One award at the gala in recognition of Yolanda's battle with Lyme disease and her ongoing fight to raise recognition of the debilitating condition.

Taking to the stage, Yolanda told the audience at Ciprani 42nd Street she was dedicating the award to her youngest two children, Bella, 18 and Anwar, 16 - revealing for the first time that they too had been diagnosed in 2012.

'This award is for Anwar and Bella. This is my token and my promise to you that I will not allow you to live a life of pain and suffering,' she said in an emotional speech.

'I will walk to the end of the earth to find a cure so that you can live a healthy life that you deserve. No child should suffer the way that you do.

Family illness: Phones 4u founder John Caudwell with his two daughters Rhiannon (right) and Rebecca (left) who all have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Mr Caudwell believes that the disease is endemic, arguing that if an entire family like his can be infected, the disease must be both sexually transmitted and passed from mother to child

In September British billionaire John Caudwel announced that his 20-year-old son Rufus (above) an aspiring musician and his ex-wife and daughters have all been diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease

United front: David Foster, Yolanda's husband of four years, also attended the gala honouring his wife

Strike a pose: Gigi attended with her boyfriend of five months Joe Jonas, marking the first time they have walked a red carpet as a couple

'I thank you both for your extraordinary selflessness during this journey. Your unwavering love and compassion has kept me alive and fighting through the darkest days of my life,' Yolanda added.

Yolanda was joined at the gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street by her husband David Foster and Gigi's boyfriend of five months, singer Joe Jonas.

Gigi got emotional as she spoke about her family's struggle with the illness in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet.

Tearing up as she explained: 'I'm the only one in, of my siblings, my mom and my family that hasn't been affected by Lyme disease. It's been really hard for me because I'm the only one that doesn't really understand it.

'What's been hardest for me is just trying to find a way to be their hope and kind of be a strength for them even with the disease that I can't understand fully because I haven't been through it,' she added.

For a good cause: Gigi got emotional as she spoke about her family's struggle with the illness in an interview on the red carpet with Bella

Proud: Gigi presented her mom with the Power Of One award at the event, giving an emotional speech

Stage presence: The top model, who along with Bella walked runways during Paris Fashion Week this month, held the audience captive with her gaze

Support: Gigi introduced Yolanda to the stage and helped her up to the podium as the Real Housewives star prepared to deliver her speech

Super close: The mother and daughter shared an emotional embrace after Yolanda's dedication to her children

That's my mom: Taking to the stage, Yolanda told the audience at Ciprani 42nd Street that she was dedicating the award to her youngest two children

Like mother, like daughters: Both Gigi and Bella are following in Yolanda's footsteps down the fashion runway - and Bella got to take to the catwalk for Kanye West's show during NY Fashion Week last month

We are family: The Hadid sisters and brother were on hand to support their mom who was a special guest at the event designed to raise awareness to find a cure for Lyme disease

Say cheese: Gigi snapped a selfie with her mother and pals at the event, which celebrated Yolanda as well as raising recognition of Lyme disease

Yolanda earlier this year said the illness had progressed to the point where had 'lost the ability to read, write, or even watch TV.'

The former international model has been chronicling her efforts to combat Lyme disease on social media. Just last week, Yolanda shared yet another picture of herself continuing treatment.

'Exhausted but determined to uncover the mystery of chronic Lyme disease.......,' Yolanda wrote in the caption.

Other snapshots have shown her seeking a variety of treatments around the world in a bid to regain her health.

Other celebrities who have contracted Lyme disease include singer Avril Lavigne, 31, and singer Daryl Hall, 68, of Hall & Oates who was diagnosed with it in 2005.

British Lyme Disease sufferer Adelle Huckins (left), 35, is convinced that husband Rob (right), 37, and their three young children Josh (front), 12, Kaitlyn (back), 10, and Dexter (centre), 5, have contracted the disease from her. She said that British Phones 4U billionaire John Caudwell is right in his belief that Lyme disease is endemic and that it can be passed through the womb

British survival guru Ray Mears and singer Avril Lavigne have both spoken out about battling Lyme disease