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Heart of FAAN Child Ambassador Raising Awareness About Food Allergies as National Walk for Food Allergy Season Begins

Child With Food Allergy Does His Part to Find a Cure   

FAIRFAX, Va. (August 12, 2010) – Leandro de Armas is not your typical 7-year-old. While he shares the same interests as most boys – playing sports, collecting trains, and learning about insects – it’s his intense focus on helping find a cure for food allergies that makes Leandro stand out.

FAAN’s (The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure is being held in more than 50 cities across the nation this year to raise awareness and funds for food allergy research and education programs. As FAAN’s Heart of FAAN Child Ambassador, Leandro is playing a valuable role in increasing awareness about food allergy, a potentially fatal medical condition that affects an estimated 12 million Americans, including 3 million children like Leandro.

Leandro, of Miami, is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and peas. Peanut and tree nut allergy are among the most dangerous food allergies, and a recent study showed that the incidence of peanut and tree nut allergy among children tripled between 1997 and 2008[1]. 

“Not many children have this opportunity, and I’m really excited that I am the one FAAN chose to create awareness for food allergies. It is important to raise awareness, and I want all the people to learn about food allergies, so that all the children can be safe,” Leandro said.

Leandro has already appeared in a national public service announcement for FAAN’s Walk for Food Allergy, and he hopes that people with and without food allergies will participate and support this cause. The national Walks kick off Aug. 15 in Denver and Seattle, with Walks scheduled nearly every weekend of the fall in more than 50 cities across the country.

“Even though he is just 7 years old, Leandro is very driven, and most importantly, very hopeful that scientists will find a cure for food allergy,” said FAAN CEO Julia Bradsher. “It is inspiring to see a child who not only wants a cure, but is doing something about it, and that’s why Leandro is doing such a great job as FAAN’s first Heart of FAAN Child Ambassador.”

Leandro will be appearing at the Walk for Food Allergy in Miami on Nov. 6. Walk events are family-friendly and provide a fun way to spend a weekend day while doing something that benefits the food allergy community. For more information, to register, or to make a donation, please visit www.foodallergywalk.org.

[1] US prevalence of self-reported peanut, tree nut, and sesame allergy: 11-year follow-up. Scott H. Sicherer, Anne Muñoz-Furlong, James H. Godbold, Hugh A. Sampson, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - 12 May 2010 (10.1016/j.jaci.2010.03.029)

About FAAN

Founded in 1991, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information, resources, and programs for food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts as many as 15 million Americans including almost 6 million children. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN has approximately 22,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and 58 other countries. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. To become a member or for more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.

Media Contact

Jennifer Roeder
Director, Marketing and Media Communications
Direct: (703) 563-3061
Cell: (301) 639-4811
E-mail: jroeder@foodallergy.org
Twitter: @JenRoeder