Luke Pilgrim
Singer/songwriter Luke Pilgrim, who has emerged from Atlanta as an artist to watch, is a prime example of a public figure affected by food allergies. However, he has not let the various challenges related to this medical condition stop him from accomplishing his every dream, and he has embraced his role as a FAAN Celebrity Ambassador Who Cares.
Pilgrim, who grew up in Cleveland, a small North Georgia town, nurtured a love for music early in his life, sitting in with bands and playing lead guitar at the age of 11. He wrote, recorded, and produced his first album with his band Last November by age 15. Together with his band, Pilgrim has toured the country for the better part of a decade. Luke is now back to his country roots, and recording his first album under his birth name.
On the road or at home, Luke has managed a peanut allergy since he was diagnosed at 17 months old.
His parents also learned Luke had allergies to dust mites and various other foods, but the peanut allergy was the most dangerous. Being aware of this condition is vital to Luke’s daily survival.
Luke notes one of the most dangerous encounters he has had in regard to his peanut allergy came the day before he graduated from high school. He shares, “my family was throwing me a graduation party and everyone was there — my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and all my closest friends. My sister had prepared an upside-down ice cream cookie cake concoction for the celebration, which I had eaten before with no problems at all. What I didn’t know was that my sister had used a different brand of ingredient for the cake, which, unknowingly to both of us, contained nuts. I didn’t even have to finish the first bite before noticing the reaction occurring. My dad decided to use an EpiPen® and called an ambulance. The next day at graduation I had to hobble down the aisle — the EpiPen® shot went into my leg so it was a little bruised — but I was just so happy I lived to graduate that I didn’t even care!”
Being aware of his allergy saved Luke’s life that day, and he is determined to spread the word on the importance of food allergy awareness, education, and research. In October 2010, Luke participated in FAAN’s Teen Summit in Baltimore, speaking to teens with food allergies and performing songs for an appreciative audience. He hopes that through his music, he can inspire and educate people who are affected by food allergies, as well as the general public who should be aware of this issue.
Keep up with Luke Pilgrim by visiting www.lukepilgrim.com and connecting with him on
MySpace, 
Facebook, and 
Twitter.
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