60 Seconds for Celiac Disease

If you are reading this blog, you are already taking the time to learn and continue your education about celiac disease. I encourage you to take another sixty seconds to watch this video and then visit BeyondCeliac.org for even more information about living with celiac disease.

 

 Have another 10 seconds? Share this video on Twitter by clicking below! 

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Take the Pledge Campaign

As a blogger over the past 7 years, a Leader, a Facebooker, and a Tweeter, I work hard via social media to help spread awareness about Celiac Disease. I run the largest Celiac/Gluten-Free Meetup group IN THE WORLD and I am amazed about how this group has evolved since I took the wheel. I have been living with Celiac for more than 32 years, so it really is an integral part of who I am. So when the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness asked me to take a pledge to "Educate, Empower, and Advocate" in the name of Celiac Disease, it was a no-brainer. Of course I would help!

Restore Your Health. Reclaim Your Life. Take the Pledge.

What does "Take the Pledge" mean?

According to the NFCA, "It means much more than just committing 100% to your gluten-free diet.
By taking the Pledge, you’re promising to take a proactive approach to managing your health in just three easy steps - whether it’s learning more about celiac disease itself, promising to be more diligent about recognizing and preventing cross-contact or participating in the many forms of research focused on celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (‘gluten sensitivity’)."

When you take the pledge, you promise to:

"Educate:
The gluten-free diet is not a fad.  We know this, you know this - it's a treatment that's here to stay.
Celiac disease is not a food allergy. Let's take this opportunity to set the record straight!

Be Empowered:
We can work together to amplify our voice to raise awareness of gluten-related disorders.
We are in the driver's seat when it comes to managing our own health.

Advocate:
You play a key role in helping family members understand their risk for this genetic autoimmune disease.
83% of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed. We have the power to change that by sharing our personal stories and raising awareness of the signs and symptoms."

Are you ready to take the pledge and start educating others about Celiac and empowering yourself to be the best gluten-free person you can be? Let's go!

www.CeliacCentral.org/TakeThePledge

Leave a comment below if you decided to take the pledge! 

Hofstra University Basketball Celiac Awareness Day

Hofstra University vs. Manhattan College Celiac Awareness Day 

Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation 

Saturday, November 30, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (EST) 

$20.00 per ticket plus $2.09 processing fee 

Buy your tickets here: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8977759721 

The Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation Student Ambassador program is proud to bring celiac disease awareness to the Hofstra University campus with this great event! The Hofstra University Men’s Basketball team will be playing Manhattan College on Saturday, November 30th, 2013 at 4pm, at Mack Sports Complex on Hofstra’s campus. The student ambassadors and members of the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation will be present to hand out celiac disease awareness information, answer questions, and represent the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation for this celiac disease education and awareness event!

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation and its multiple, national, education and awareness programs!

The event will help support the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation, and their national celiac disease education and awareness programs, which includes the first program to give scholarships to students with celiac disease, a cleats 4 kids program which helps students in underserved areas learn the importance of health and nutrition, and a student ambassador program, that empowers students of all ages to be voices in their communities to raise celiac education and awareness.

For more information on this event or how to become a student ambassador, please contact Craig Pinto at craig@kicking4celiac.org, to donate directly, please visit www.kicking4celiac.org

Tickets will be mailed immediately upon purchase!

New York State Celiac Awareness Legislative Package

I was contacted by the legislative director to Senator Kevin Parker in New York State about Celiac Disease awareness. Senator Parker is looking for letters of support for these bills to be passed in New York State.

According to Senator Parker's Chief of Staff:

"Senator Parker was acquainted with the challenge of celiac disease both from a personal acquaintance, and by the fact that several staff members of the Senate suffer from the disorder.

His first act in beginning to address this scourge was to draft a bill to try to raise awareness about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity/intolerance by creating an education program in the schools. Soon after that, he put forward a resolution in 2010 requesting the Governor to proclaim May of 2010 Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

As you know, both of those actions were the first legislative activity in New York on the issue of celiac disease. Unsurprisingly, after those actions, Senator Parker heard from a broad spectrum of the celiac advocate community, which is how he determined to draft more legislation aimed at more facets of this widespread problem."

These are hugely important pieces of legislation for those of us living with Celiac Disease. I encourage all of my New York readers to support these pieces of legislation today. I have included links to sample letters below the legislation.

Please contact Ricja Rice if you have any questions at 518-455-2573 or rrice@nysenate.gov.

1. S3199 PARKER Same as A 2574 Ortiz (MS) Requires the commissioner of health to establish means of educating proprietors and employees of public eating establishments about food allergens.

2. S3087 PARKER Establishes the New York state celiac disease awareness and research fund; provides for education on celiac disease awareness.

3. S3094 PARKER Relates to requiring the notice of gluten content in foods being served in state owned, operated or leased cafeterias and all cafeterias operated by the state university of New York.

4. S4283 PARKER Requires gluten cross-contamination safeguards in food establishments owned, operated or leased by any department or agency of the state.

You can download a draft memo in support of Celiac legislation in New York State here.

Don't delay. Support NYS Celiac legislation today! Email, fax, or regular mail are just fine! 

Please send all of your memos to:

Ricja D. Rice, Esq.
Legislative Director
State Senator Kevin Parker
604 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
T.  518.455.2580
F.  518.426.6843
Email. rrice@nysenate.gov