FAAN Walk for Food Allergy Comes to Los Angeles

Potentially Life-Threatening Medical Condition Affects 15 Million Americans

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year's FAAN Walk for Food Allergy in Los Angeles, CA will take place in Santa Monica on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.

The event, to be held in more than 40 cities across the country, as well as online, will support the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network's (FAAN™) efforts to increase awareness about food allergies and raise money for advocacy, education, and research.

Cybele Pascal, a FAAN Ambassador Who Cares and author of The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook, will serve as the Local Honorary Chair. "Despite the rise in the number of people with food allergies, there is still a lack of awareness," said Pascal, who not only has food allergies herself, but also has children with food allergies. Pascal will be joined at the Walk by Local Honorary Medical Chair Dr. Lawrence Sher of Peninsula Research Associates, Local Honorary Teen Chair Kendall Hollinger, and Local Honorary Youth Chair Natalia Stoa.

In addition, Holly Robinson Peete, actress, advocate and mother of children with food allergies, and Kenton Duty, actor and FAAN Ambassador Who Cares will be in attendance to support FAAN.

An estimated 15 million Americans, including nearly 6 million children, have a food allergy — that's 1 in 13 children. Food allergies are a potentially life-threatening medical condition, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that food allergies result in more than 300,000 ambulatory-care visits a year among children.

Registration for FAAN's Walk for Food Allergy is now open at www.foodallergywalk.org.  Individuals, families, community groups, and anyone else wishing to raise funds for FAAN are encouraged to register and attend this family-friendly event. Registration is free.

The two-mile Walk will start at 12:00 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:00 a.m. Following the Walk, participants can enjoy a rock wall, face painting, giveaways like an iPad2® from Dey Pharma, and other fun activities for the kids. The National Sponsors include Dey Pharma, L.P., Enjoy Life Foods, Sunbutter, Coca-Cola, Galaxy Nutritional Foods, and Home Free. Local sponsors include Toyota.

Local Honorary Teen Chair is Kendall Hollinger, who at age 13 has many severe food allergies, and is a competitive figure skater who has appeared on "Good Morning America" and the "Young Icons" TV show. Participating in and performing at the Walk to support Kendall are "The Backbeats," an a capella group who competed on NBC's "The Sing-Off."

"The Backbeats inspire me, and remind me that dreams come true," said Hollinger. "It means more to me than words could ever say that they are walking for Team Kendall. I am honored and so excited!" 

Young actress Natalia Stoa, Local Honorary Youth Chair, may only be 4 years old, but through her work as a Junior Reporter for Hollywood Teen'zine she is already blogging. Participating in the FAAN Walk allows her to advocate and help others understand how hard it is to have life-threatening allergies as a child living in the "real world" and how "it takes a village" to keep kids safe.

Yla Aquino, who attended Chino Hills High School, will also be remembered at the Walk. Aquino passed away on prom night last year from an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. She has nearly 2,000 friends and family who use Facebook to celebrate her life. Her family will participate in the Walk and be honored for sharing her story to educate others.

Please join us for the FAAN Walk for Food Allergy in Los Angeles, CA; together, we will make a difference.

About FAAN
Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information, programs, and resources about food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts as many as 15 million Americans, including nearly 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 raising public awareness, providing advocacy and education, and advancing research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. 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 www.foodallergy.org.

SOURCE Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network