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FAAN's Walk for Food Allergy Raises $2.3 Million for Research and Education
FAIRFAX, Va. (January 9, 2009) – The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s (FAAN) fifth annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure events, held in 26 cities across the country, raised a record-breaking $2.3 million in 2008. More than 15,000 people participated in the family-oriented events as walkers, sponsors, volunteers, and committee members.
“Until there is a cure, education and awareness are key to keeping children safe” said FAAN CEO and Founder Anne Muñoz-Furlong. “Our events raise awareness in the community and bring families together for a fun-filled day benefiting a worthy cause.”
“The Walks really help raise awareness for a cause that is so near and dear to my heart, because of my son Dante,” said Suzanne Harrison whose two-year old son has food allergies. “At the Walk, you look around and see that you’re not alone. You look around and you realize that you’re not crazy. I met another mom at the Walk and she ended up coming to our food allergy meeting. It was great meeting and sharing with those who are going through the same thing as you.”
Yael Kozar, mother of two elementary school aged girls with food allergies agrees, “It was good for my children and especially my younger one to meet other kids and hear stories that were similar and many times even more dramatic situations than we have encountered. There were a lot of brave, strong, amazing kids there.”
“We’d like to extend a special thanks to all our volunteers, particularly the Walk chairs and their families, who put so much time and effort into an event that benefits so many people. With their help, we raise money to fund vital research and education programs. Equally important, the children and their families see first hand that they are not alone.” adds Muñoz-Furlong.
Plans are already underway for the 2009 FAAN Walk for Food Allergy events, which will take place in 35 cities. Registration opens in the Spring. For more information or to see photos of the 2008 walk events visit www.foodallergywalk.org.
About FAAN
Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information about food allergy, a potentially life threatening medical condition that afflicts approximately 12 million Americans, or one out of every 25. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN has approximately 25,000 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. For more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org, www.faankids.org, and www.faanteen.org.
Media Contact
Jennifer Roeder
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Direct: (703) 563-3061
Cell: (301) 639-4811
E-mail: jroeder@foodallergy.org
Twitter: @JenRoeder
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