Nashville, TN. (Trace Adkins Official Website) - Multi-platinum selling country star,
Trace Adkins has partnered with The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a non-profit organization, in an effort to promote food allergy awareness. The country hitmaker recently traveled to Capitol Hill to take part in the FAAN sponsored "Kids' Congress" event to share the story of his four-year-old daughter's struggle with multiple severe food allergies. Children from 31 states also joined Adkins in taking their personal stories to the Hill. Together, their goal was to urge Congress to pass a new legislation called the "Food Allergy and Analphylaxis Management Act of 2005", a bill that would encourage U.S. public schools to educate all faculty and staff about food allergy management. While there, Adkins, wife and daughter met with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (TN), Senator Lamar
Alexander (TN) and Representative Marsha Blackburn (TN).
"Through my family's personal experience, I've learned that food allergies affect the daily lives of more than 11 million Americans and that quite often, many do not take food allergies very seriously or even know much about them," said Adkins. "We first realized our daughter suffered from food allergies when she was nine months old. As a result, we spent hours on the Internet researching different foods and organizations for assistance and guidance. It was there that we discovered The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network - a nonprofit organization-was helping millions of families with their efforts to keep their children safe from food allergy reactions. I hope, through my involvement, I can bring more needed awareness and support for a cure."
Adkins will further promote food allergy awareness through the sale of newly developed Trace Adkins PAL (Protect A Life) Bears to be sold on his website www.traceadkins.com. Proceeds from each purchase of the Trace and/or Hot Mama PAL Bear will go towards continued research of food allergies and ultimately a cure. Fans who purchase the bears will also receive a special autographed letter from the star.
Adkins, an Opry member with one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in country music today, is one of the genre's true rugged individualists. His basement deep baritone and unshakeable sense of self have made him a star, but it is his music and the life he brings to it, that has appealed to so many of his fans and made his body of work so important. He has sold millions of records with his string of hits, won dozens of awards and his CDs have been either gold or platinum-certified. His latest SONGS ABOUT ME made its entry at the top of the country albums chart upon its release in March 2005. The project has since been certified Gold and is nearing Platinum status.
"Our FAAN members are thrilled to have Trace aboard to bring about widespread awareness of food allergies, said Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of FAAN. "As a parent, Trace knows the daily struggles children with food allergies encounter at each meal, in their interactions with friends, at school, and in finding the proper information and educational support to provide safeguards against reactions. Trace's support and notable voice will assist so many as they work to manage their food allergies."
Eight foods account for 90% of all reactions in the United States: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish (lobster, shrimp, etc.). Food-allergic reactions result in more than 30,000 emergency room visits each year. It is estimated that between 150 and 200 people, including children and young adults, die annually from anaphylaxis to food. There is no cure for food allergy. Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to prevent a reaction.
