Mom to advocate all across U.S.
CRANBERRY TWP — A Cranberry Township mother will chair a steering committee to advocate in Washington, D.C., and across the U.S for increased food allergy research funding.
Gina Clowes of AllergyMoms in Cranberry Township is the chair of the group of 16 parent advocates nationwide who also have children with severe food allergies.
Robert Kennedy Jr., member of the Food Allergy Initiative board of directors, announced the formation of FAI's Advocacy Steering Committee during Food Allergy Week held earlier this month.
"Food Allergy Initiative is tremendously honored and grateful to have such an esteemed group of parents who are willing to join our effort to find a cure," Kennedy said in a statement.
"I am very pleased to take part in FAI's new steering committee," Clowes said. "For 11 years, FAI has led the way in funding research to find a cure to this life-threatening disease. Nothing is more important to me and millions of other parents who wish they could take their children to restaurants, birthday parties and school cafeterias without living in constant fear of exposure to potentially deadly allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs and wheat."
"As a group, we will devote their attention, resources and expertise toward making sure the federal government is on the leading edge to find a cure," she added.
Clowes's support group Web site, allergymoms.com, provides information for parents of children with food allergies.
The site features recipes, articles and information on products related to various allergies.
Clowes said her goal is to work toward a cure.
"It's a very challenging life," she said.
Her son, Daniel, was born in 2000, and on only his second day of life, exhibited signs of food allergies, including hives, eczema and reflux.
After months of visiting doctors and specialists, the family learned Daniel had more than a dozen food allergies, some of which are life-threatening. He is allergic to milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, peas and mustard, just to name a few.
Because of his condition, the Cloweses have adjusted their eating habits and lives to Daniel's needs.
Clowes pointed out the challenges Daniel faces at football and soccer games, in schools and even at banks, where candy or cookies are offered.
Clowes believes the problem is becoming an epidemic. She added researchers are learning allergies children were able to outgrow are now taking longer to overcome, stretching into the teen years. Some never overcome allergies.
A recent Centers for Disease Control report indicated in a recent five-year period, the rates of peanut allergies among children doubled, and allergies to other foods are similarly increasing.
Currently, no medications are available to cure or control food allergies.
A strict diet and avoidance of allergenic foods is the only way to avoid a reaction. Yet the most common allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy are staples of the food supply and virtually impossible to avoid completely.
Accidental exposure to a small amount of the food can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis that causes throat swelling, a dramatic drop in blood pressure, vomiting and even death.
Researchers estimate it will take $100 million in research funding to develop a viable treatment, which they are hoping to achieve in the next five to 10 years.
