Children with food allergies had a reason to celebrate on Saturday, September 16, 2006, as they joined family, friends, doctors, and other supporters to raise awareness of food allergies. The Chicago Walk for Food Allergy raised $90,000 for The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Nearly 450 people walked through Lincoln Park in Chicago's third annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure.

More than 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies, the majority of them children. There is no cure for food allergy. Food-allergic reactions result 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.

"With food allergies on the rise, it is more important than ever to fund research and raise awareness," says walk chairperson Bonnie Weinbach. "In addition to raising money for FAAN, the walk serves another important purpose. It brings families with food allergies together, and gives them the opportunity to learn about allergy-friendly products from our sponsors."

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 and information about special programs are available online at www.foodallergy.org, www.fankids.org, and www.faanteen.org .