Fifth Annual “Strides for Safe Kids” is More than a Walk, It’s an Event

Doylestown, Pa. August 20, 2013 – Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the nation’s leading allergy and asthma charity, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), has announced that multi-award winning journalist, television producer and philanthropist Lynn Doyle, host of “It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle,” has been named honorary chair for KFA’s 5th Annual Strides for Safe Kids Mall Walk and Expo.

As honorary chair, Ms. Doyle will be the event host and will promote this annual family-friendly fundraising and awareness event in the Philadelphia area. The event is more than a walk – it brings adults and kids of all ages together at a local mall with special guests, entertainers, unique sponsors, donors and other supporters for a day filled with activities to celebrate families living with food allergies, capped-off by a march around the mall. The event also raises funds to keep children with food allergies safe and healthy through food allergy education, patient support and advocacy, supporting the nonprofit mission of KFA. This year’s Strides for Safe Kids event will be held on Sunday, September 8, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

“KFA serves a critical role in educating and supporting families raising children with food allergies, and this event helps to raise funds and awareness about this important cause while having a lot of fun,” said Doyle. “Supporting worthy charities is one of my personal priorities. I am proud to be appointed as chair of this year’s event.”

“We are thrilled that Lynn has agreed to take on the role of honorary chair for our Mall Walk and Expo,” said Lynda Mitchell, Founder and Senior Director of KFA. “Lynn’s long-standing commitment to charitable causes makes her the ideal person to make this year’s Strides for Safe Kids event more successful than ever.”
Proudly serving as Platinum sponsors for the Strides for Safe Kids event are Mylan, Sanofi, ThermoFisher Scientific, Hope Paige, Enjoy Life Foods, Nutricia North America, Abbott Nutrition and Sunbutter. Gold sponsors include Daiya, GreenLaurel Documents and Whole Foods Market of Plymouth Meeting.

For more information about the 2013 Strides for Safe Kids Mall Walk and Expo, visit www.strides4safekids.org, call 215-230-5394 or contact Michele Cassalia at mcassalia@kidswithfoodallergies.org.

About Food Allergy
Food allergy is a serious public health priority affecting millions of adults and children. An estimated 1 in 13 children in the U.S. now have one or more food allergies, and studies show a rise in prevalence over the past 10-20 years. Despite the risk of severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis, which can be fatal, there is no cure or preventative treatment for food allergy. Allergen avoidance and management of allergen-restricted diets is crucial to prevent allergic reactions. Prompt treatment when faced with an allergy emergency is essential to save lives. The mission of KFA and AAFA is dedicated to keeping children safe and healthy through patient education regarding the nutritional implications of managing allergen-restricted diets, preventing reactions by avoiding allergens and being prepared to promptly manage and treat allergic reactions.

About KFA
Founded in 2005, Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) has become an essential part of the food allergy and anaphylaxis community offering patient education programs, webinars, an allergy buyers’ guide, an electronic database of allergen-free recipes and more to help keep children safe and healthy. Most notably, KFA hosts the largest and most active online food allergy and anaphylaxis community on its website, a critical platform for parents and caregivers who want to network with others about raising kids with food allergies and related diseases. KFA recently merged to become a division of AAFA. For more information visit www.kidswithfoodallergies.org.

About AAFA
Founded in 1953 and celebrating 60 years of service, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the oldest and largest nonprofit patient organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions through education, advocacy and research. AAFA provides practical information, community based services, support and referrals through a national network of chapters and educational support groups. AAFA also sponsors research toward better treatments and a cure for asthma and allergic diseases. For more information about AAFA, visit www.aafa.org.

About Lynn Doyle
Lynn Doyle is a multi award-winning journalist and nine-time Emmy recipient with more than 30 years of television news experience. She is host and executive producer for The Comcast Network’s Emmy Award-winning “It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle”, now in its 15th season. In June 2010, Retirement Living TV (www.RL.TV) launched the program nationally to more than 14 million homes on Channel 175 on Comcast. Doyle has been recognized for her television excellence with multiple Emmy, Telly and Beacon awards, including two Emmys for Best Talk Host and the prestigious Cable Fax award for best public affairs show for two years in a row. Most recently, “It's Your Call” received the 2010 PA Broadcasters Association Best Talk Show award.

For Media Inquiries Only:
Angel Waldron
angel@aafa.org
202-466-7643 x248