Toronto, ON, April 25, 2019 – Food Allergy Canada Ambassador Alex Tagliani will be visiting Kimberley/Beaches Alternative School in Toronto on the morning of May 1st to help kick-off Food Allergy Awareness Month and promote allergy awareness. Alex, who has food allergies, will share his experience and tips on managing food allergy safely, as well as how to support students at risk of a serious reaction.
Together with the students, Alex will be designing his 2019 NASCAR season opener #18 race car with team 22 Racing, which will be onsite at the school. Alex will unveil the car to race fans at the first NASCAR Pinty’s Series race on May 19th at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont., where students will be invited to attend to see the race trackside.
“Food allergy is a very serious issue, but I approach it like I do a race – preparation, teamwork, and being careful,” said Alex. I look forward to meeting the students and answering their questions about food allergy and encouraging them to learn more and support their friends who may be at risk.”
Food allergies are a growing public health concern affecting more than 2.6 million Canadians. Given that even a small amount of an allergen, if ingested, could cause a serious allergic reaction and be potentially life-threatening, avoidance is the only means of staying safe. Public education, particularly for young people, is a key component of a strategy of safe and responsible food allergen management.
“We are excited to welcome Alex to our school to talk about food allergy and show his support for this important day-to-day issue,” said Kimberley Public/Beaches Alternative School Principal Lilian Hanson. “Our school strives to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all our students, and we look forward to hearing Alex’s inspiring message.”
Who: Alex Tagliani
What: Presentation to students on food allergy awareness; designing race car with students
When: Wednesday, May 1st, 10am – 12pm
Where: Kimberley Public/Beaches Alternative School, 50 Swanwick Ave, Toronto
Why: As part of Food Allergy Canada’s efforts to raise awareness with the community
“Having Alex talk about his allergies is a great way of reaching students directly, letting them know that food allergy is a serious issue, but one that can be managed safely with support from those around you, including their teachers and friends,” said Beatrice Povolo, Director of Advocacy & Media with Food Allergy Canada.
About Food Allergy Canada
Food Allergy Canada is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians with food allergies and those who care for them. The organization is committed to creating a safer world for people with potentially life-threatening allergies through education, advocacy, and research. The organization’s approach to reducing the risk of allergic reactions in both children and adults is focused on self-management, community engagement, understanding, and respect. For more information, please visit www.foodallergycanada.ca.
About Alex Tagliani
Alex Tagliani, also known by his racing name TAG, developed a passion for racing at the age of 10 when he was introduced to karting on a visit to see his paternal grandfather in Northern Italy. The Montreal native has shown his fans that he can drive anything ‐ from Indy Car to NASCAR to a prototype. Since the beginning of his career in open wheel racing, NASCAR, IMSA, Alex has accumulated 23 wins, 27 pole positions, 38 podiums and over 120 top‐10 finishes. A fierce competitor, Alex has many passions including training and nutrition and always takes precautions when managing his life‐threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, including carrying his EpiPen® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector.
For more information please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting for Food Allergy Canada
416-996-0767/ 514-844-0664
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca
Max d’Orsonnens
Tagliani Autosport/22 Racing
514-246-8909
maxdo@videotron.ca
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