FAAN Walk for Food Allergies
We are proud to announce that Mireille Schwartz, founder of the Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board, has joined country star Trace Adkins in being named Honorary Chair for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s (FAAN’s) 2009 Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure in San Francisco.
This is an amazing opportunity to help build awareness and fund research to improve the health of millions of people affected by food allergies. FAAN is a national nonprofit whose mission is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.
Approximately 12 million people, or 4% of the U.S. population, suffer from food allergy! Over 380,000 California children under the age of 18 years cope with food allergies daily. One in every 25 kids in a school can have a potentially fatal reaction to a food allergen.
One of FAAN’s main fundraising efforts is the Walk for Food Allergy, a family-friendly event that brings the community together in support of FAAN and its efforts against food allergies. In 2008, 25 sponsors and over 600 walkers in San Francisco helped earn over $110,000 for FAAN. Way to go, San Francisco!
With the support of hundreds of sponsors and over 15,000 walkers, FAAN raised $2.3 million from all 26 Walk for Food Allergy events held across the country in 2008. In the sixth year, the demand for FAAN Walks has increased to 36 cities across the nation. On Saturday, September 12, 2009, San Francisco will host its third Walk for Food Allergy in Golden Gate Park.
Mireille’s Honorary Co-Chair, Country Music star Trace Adkins, understands the serious dangers of food allergies from his experience in managing his daughter Brianna’s severe allergies to multiple foods, including to peanuts, milk, and eggs. He continues to help FAAN as the national spokesperson and to serve as the National Honorary Walk Chair for the 2009 Walks.
In 2008, Trace appeared on “The Celebrity Apprentice” in an effort to raise awareness of food allergies and support FAAN. “I’m so pleased to be able to lend my name as the National Honorary Chair,” says Trace.
Please visit foodallergy.org for more information about this important organization and the September 2009 event.