Local celebrities, senator team up for FAAN Walk for Food Allergy
Over 1,000 walkers expected to stroll Long Branch boardwalk

LONG BRANCH — Although all parents worry about their children's safety, parents of children with food allergies have an additional challenge.

Educating the public and raising funds for research are two ways parents, friends and families of children with food allergies are helping to widen the safety net.

Joining the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure in Long Branch on Sept. 12 are two well-known Monmouth County dads, newsman Brian Thompson and soap star Frank Dicopoulos.

Thompson, a New York News 4 reporter, said he's honored to be emcee of this year's walk. He credits the increasing awareness of food allergies to efforts such as the FAAN walks and says it enables him to better concentrate on being a father.

"As a parent, I can live as close to a normal life as possible when it comes to what my daughter eats. It's a huge relief to me as a father," said the New Jersey reporter, who has been with the NBC New York affiliate since 1998. Thompson's daughter, Nikki, 14, "is mature young woman who is very careful about her food allergy," he said. Still, her tree-nut allergy worries her, he said, due to reactions that are fresh in her mind. She always carries her epinephrine auto-injector, and she knows not to eat something if the ingredients can't be verified.

Nikki Thompson is one of more than 60,000 New Jersey schoolchildren who have food allergies, which have no known cure. Nationwide, an estimated 150 people die every year from fatal reactions, and another estimated 50,000 seek treatment in emergency rooms for foodinduced anaphylaxis, according to FAAN.

Nikki's mother, Lori Stokes, anchor for WABC News, also has food allergies.

Frank Dicopoulos, star of television's longestrunning soap opera, CBS's "Guiding Light," for 22 years, is this year's honorary chairman. "Educating the public and our own children about food-allergy safety is key and gives us peace of mind when they are away from us," said Dicopoulos. Both Dicopoulos and his teenage daughter have food allergies.

"I am proud to be involved again this year," said Dicopoulos, who was the emcee for last year's inaugural walk.

That walk was attended by approximately 1,000 people, raised over $150,000, and was awarded the title "Best New Walk of 2008" by FAAN.

This year, the walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the Great Lawn, north of Pier Village, with checkin at 9 a.m. Following the walk, children's singer/songwriter mr. RAY will headline a free concert. The son of mr. RAY's bookings manager, the daughter of a band member, as well as two children who sing with the mr. RAY band, have food allergies.

Magician Bruce Bray will also perform, and there will be appearances from costumed Star Wars characters. Returning from last year's walk is state Sen. Sean Kean, who will speak about legislation regarding food allergies in schools.

The Walk for Food Allergy raises awareness and funds for food allergy education and research. The walks are held nationwide to support FAAN, an international nonprofit organization that provides information about food allergy to the media, schools, health professionals, the food industry and government officials, as well as the food allergy community.

Greater Media Newspapers is one of the media sponsors for the Sept. 12 walk. Lester Glenn Auto Group and Dean's Natural Food Market return as corporate sponsors.

To register for the Long Branch Walk, visit www.foodallergywalk.org/longbranch_ nj, or email longbranchchair@foodallergy.org.