In May, Alex Tagliani, NASCAR race car driver and Food Allergy Canada ambassador, kicked off Food Allergy Awareness Month at Kimberley/Beaches Alternative School in Toronto, ON.
Alex spoke to students about managing food allergy, the importance of carrying epinephrine auto-injectors, and how to support students at risk of anaphylaxis.
Following the assembly, students coloured in decals of the priority food allergens and joined Alex in putting them on his car ahead of his first race of the season.
Many parents of kids with food allergy commented on how important the assembly was and how much their children appreciated the support of their peers. “They felt really special, to have a whole assembly with the entire school focused on the importance of food allergy and what they can all do to help support the students who have them,” said a parent who attended the event.
The kids were ecstatic to have a race car star at their school and were proud to decorate Alex’s car. Later in the month, the kids were thrilled to see their decals in action as they cheered Alex on at the NASCAR Pinty’s Series opening weekend at Canadian Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, ON.
Kimberley/Beaches Alternative School didn’t stop at the event. Earlier this month, they kicked off an allergy-friendly food drive where students learned about the importance of reading food labels and brought in foods without the priority food allergens to be donated to a local food bank!
Thank you, Alex, for supporting food allergy awareness. Good luck this season! And thank you to Kimberley/Beaches Alternative School for supporting your students with food allergy with multiple fun events that not only drove awareness but were educational too!
Check out highlights from the event below.
