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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
FAAN Media Relations
(703) 691-3179
media@foodallergy.org
SHORTER ROUTE, FASTER ROAD TO AWARENESS
OF THE SEVERITY
OF FOOD ALLERGIES
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
Sponsors Third Annual Nationwide
Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure
(Fairfax, Va., June 19, 2006) — Beginning August 19 and ending on November 18, thousands of families nationwide will be taking part in the third annual nationwide Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure campaign intended to increase awareness and raise research funding for a disease that currently has no cure. The disease is food allergy, which currently affects 12 million Americans. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the nation’s leading nonprofit, patient advocacy organization, dedicated to increasing education and advancing research on food allergy and anaphylaxis, will be spearheading these events in 18 cities across the nation.
The Walk for Food Allergy will be occurring in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin. Registration is now open for walk enthusiasts from every walk of life to benefit FAAN’s ongoing research and education efforts. For registration and a complete list of all of the walk locations and dates, please visit FAAN’s Web site at www.foodallergy.org.
Food allergies, especially life-threatening ones, were basically unheard of thirty years ago. Today, food allergies are more common; especially among children under the age of 18, with three million children having a food allergy. Food allergies not only affect these children but the millions of people that care for them on a daily basis, including school administrators, nurses, teachers, cafeteria workers, guidance counselors, family, friends, and classmates.
“FAAN was founded as a resource for the millions of families and health practitioners needing answers to questions on how to cope with life-threatening food allergies, and how to help others understand the disease and increase cooperation in the classroom and in the community,” said Anne Muñoz-Furlong, Founder and CEO of FAAN. “As the mother of a child with life-threatening food allergies, my goal was to increase the knowledge of the severity of food allergies in order to make my child’s environment a safer place. Each of the Walks is an opportunity to raise awareness in local communities.”
Families nationwide and the healthcare professionals are working to address this serious medical condition that now results in over 30,000 emergency room visits each year. Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction) outside the hospital setting, and results in more than 150 deaths annually. To prevent a reaction, individuals with food allergies must rely on strict avoidance of the food to which they are allergic, with peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, soy, eggs, shellfish, and fish being the most common food types to spur a reaction.
“We’re pleased to launch the 2006 Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure with national sponsorship support from Verus Pharmaceuticals,” continued Muñoz-Furlong. “Each Walk will help achieve our goal of increasing awareness and raising money to advance research in food allergy. With each dollar raised, we are closer to finding a cure.”
To request an interview with Anne Muñoz-Furlong,
please contact FAAN by phone (703) 691-3179 or by email
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ABOUT FAAN
Founded in 1991, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in food allergy information. FAAN, a nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, VA, is dedicated to increasing public awareness about food allergy and anaphylaxis, to providing education, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies. The organization has just under 30,000 members in the United States, Canada, and 62 other countries.
FAAN provides information about food allergy and educational resources to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. Educational materials published by FAAN are reviewed for medical accuracy by the FAAN Medical Advisory Board, which is comprised of 14 of the country's leaders in food allergy science and medicine. In addition to printed materials, FAAN also sponsors awareness programs such as Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, and the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference as well as fundraising Walks across the country. Educational materials and information about special programs are also available online at www.foodallergy.org, www.fankids.org, and www.faanteen.org.
