Local Companies to Support San Diego’s First Annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Several San Diego businesses joined San Diego-based national sponsor Verus Pharmaceuticals to underwrite San Diego’s first Annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure. Law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the event co-sponsor with Nature’s Recipe and law firm Latham & Watkins as start and finish line sponsors. Access Communications and Giant Creative have signed on as registration desk co-sponsors. Other sponsors include Irving Hughes commercial real estate, MedicAlert Foundation, NoNuttin’Foods, Sun Gold Foods, and Sheppard Mullin.

“These corporate citizens recognize the growing number of people who suffer from food allergies and especially are empathetic to children whose lives can be endangered if they come in contact with food allergens,” said Amy Caterina, chairperson of San Diego’s Walk for Food Allergy.

The Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure event benefits The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the nation’s leading nonprofit, patient advocacy organization dedicated to increasing awareness and education on behalf of those affected by food allergy and anaphylaxis.

The San Diego Walk is one of 18 nationwide events scheduled between August and November. Registration is now open for walk enthusiasts, school officials, community groups, government agencies, and families to participate in San Diego’s first Walk for Food Allergy, a 1.5 mile family event that will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, beginning at 9 a.m. at Balboa Park.

More than 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. The majority are school-aged children and the numbers continue to grow. Food-allergic reactions result in more than 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. It is estimated that between 150 to 200 people die annually from anaphylaxis to food, including children and young adults. To prevent a reaction, individuals with food allergies must rely on strict avoidance of the food to which they are allergic.

“Thirty years ago food allergies were almost unheard of, especially life-threatening ones. Now, one in 25 Americans is affected by food allergies,” stated Caterina. “Families nationwide and the healthcare industry are working to address this serious public health concern. The main goal of our committee is to create a food allergy and anaphylaxis support group based here in San Diego and to provide education and support for local families dealing with food allergies and anaphylaxis.”

National sponsor Verus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the distributor of Twinject(R), an epinephrine auto-injector, a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis.

For interview opportunities or volunteer/sponsorship interest, please contact

Amy Caterina at 619-379-0054 or at sdfaanwalk@yahoo.com

To register for the San Diego Walk for Food Allergy on Saturday, September 9,

       2006, please visit www.foodallergy.org or call 1-800-929-4040    ABOUT FAAN  

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 published by FAAN are reviewed for medical accuracy by the FAAN Medical Advisory Board, which is comprised of 14 of the country’s leaders in food allergy science and medicine. In addition to printed materials, FAAN also sponsors awareness programs such as Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, and the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference as well as fundraising Walks across the country. Educational materials and information about special programs are also available online at www.foodallergy.org, www.fankids.org, and www.faanteen.org.

   CONTACT:  Amy Caterina             San Diego FAAN Walk Chair             619.379.0054              Lauren Lawson             FAAN National Office             703.563.3052  

Verus Pharmaceuticals

CONTACT: San Diego FAAN Walk Chair, Amy Caterina of VerusPharmaceuticals, +1-619-379-0054; or FAAN National Office, Lauren Lawson,+1-703-563-3052

Web site: http://www.foodallergy.org/http://www.fankids.org/http://www.faanteen.org/