Camp Kanata: My Day at Gluten Free Camp

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of visiting Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, NC. As you may know, this week is a special week for the camp as it offers the chance for Gluten Free kids to attend a summer camp. This camp is one of two in the nation sponsored by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).

This year's camp featured about 30 GF kids from all around the country. These kids would not normally be able to attend a summer camp due to their dietary restrictions. But thanks to Camp Kanata, the GIG and the great folks involved in running the camp, these kids can have a normal summer camp experience.

The camp does a wonderful job of making the GF kids feel normal. From my observations, they are mixed in with all the other kids (there were 200+ kids this week total), not only at eating time but also living arrangements. I sorta expected all the GF kids to be completely separate, but this just wasn't the case.

I spent the afternoon helping Trevor from Bella Monica Flatbread Company cook a couple dozen of their Gluten Free Margherita pizzas - which Trevor graciously donated. The camp does feature a separate kitchen to avoid cross contamination. After the pizzas were cooked, they were taken to the main dining hall to be served. It was an amazing experience to see the GF kids come up and be able to eat pizza like the non-GF campers! A huge thank you to Trevor for donating his time and pizzas to this great cause. FYI - click here if you'd like to follow Trevor and his Gluten Free Pizza adventures on Twitter.

Another huge thank you must go out to Alanna Conder who is the local GIG volunteer running the Gluten Free portion of the camp. Alanna has been doing this for six years running! It takes a lot of heart, dedication and organizational skills to coordinate something like this. I was told the cost to feed these GF kids runs around $500 per day. Alanna is also lucky to have a dedicated group of volunteers to help her out - there were four of them there during my afternoon visit. Also, a special thanks to Debbie Jongkind who serves as the GF Dietitian during this week of camp. Debbie is also the blogger behind Gluten Free Durham.

I know some other folks from the Raleigh area were also involved in donating their GF products and services including Twin Cakes Bakery, Rosie's Plate and The Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse. I know there are others out there - thanks very much for your support of this week of summer camp. Also, a huge thanks for those of you involved in the Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser held this past June 13th, which raised $915 for this camp.

GIG Survey - Gluten Free Diet & Your Weight

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) is assisting a research group interested in learning more about weight issues for persons with gluten intolerances. The survey does not collect identifiable personal information.

Click here to take survey to take this survey. It should take less than 5 minutes of your time. Thank you for participating in this valuable research survey.

Recap: Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser

A huge, huge THANK YOU to everyone that participated, helped or donated funds to the 1st ever Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser held this past Saturday, 6/13.

I am proud to announce that the fundraiser collected $915 and that 100% of that is being donated to the Gluten Intolerance Group to fund Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, NC. This year's camp runs from June 21 - 27. I have received word that the following local companies are helping out with the camp in addition to the money raised by Gluten Free Raleigh - thanks to you guys for your support.

• Bella Monica Flatbread Company will be donating Gluten Free Pizzas - thanks Trevor
• Rosie's Plate will be donating Gluten Free cookies - thanks Rose
• Twin Cakes Bakery will be donating various Gluten Free baked goods - thanks Michelle and Lori
• Jules Shepard of Jules Gluten Free will be donating Gluten Free graham cracker mixes so the kids can enjoy s'mores - thanks Jules.
• Gluten Free Raleigh will also be donating Gluten Free wristbands (like Live Strong) and plans on coming up to camp to meet the kids and volunteers.
  

See below for pictures from the event.

Update - Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser

Hopefully you are all aware of the upcoming Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser which will be held in Raleigh on June 13th, 2009. 100% of your registration fee will be donated to Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata (located in Wake Forest). The goal is to raise enough money to fund 1 day of Gluten Free food for the kids at camp - about $500. So far we have raised $140! Please consider signing up if you have not already and a huge thank you to those who already have.

I have a couple of updates that I'd like to share...

• GIG has donated 5 sport water bottles, the next 5 people who register will receive one FREE! I'll update this post when the 5 free water bottles are gone. Good luck.
  
• Kid sized shirts (small and medium) are available.
• XXL sized shirts are also now available.

Reminder - The deadline to register is Tuesday, May 26th! (just about 3 weeks away). This deadline is set by the Komen Race organizers and will not be extended.

Click here to sign-up.

Reminder - Celiac Disease Run/Walk Fundraiser

I wrote two weeks ago about an upcoming Run/Walk fundraiser to benefit the Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata. Gluten Free Raleigh is organizing a team and would love for you to join. So far, participation has been pretty scarce.

If you have any interest in participating in the run/walk, please register now. The deadline to register is May 26th. The goal is to raise $500 as a donation to Camp Kanata. This will provide for ONE DAY's worth of Gluten Free food for the kids at the camp.

Let's get together and put on our red Gluten Free shirts to raise awareness and to raise funds!

Click here to register.

Special Event - Gluten Free Raleigh Run/Walk Fundraiser

~ ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE RALEIGH EVENT ~

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.
Thanks to all who have participating in raising nearly $1000 for Camp Kanata.

In coordination with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and Camp Kanata, the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog is proud to announce a special Gluten Free Raleigh Event to raise funds for Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata. A team has been created and will walk together at the upcoming Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure held in Raleigh on June 13, 2009. All proceeds will be donated to the Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata which is located in Wake Forest, NC and is one of two camps sponsored by GIG in the nation. Click here for more information about Camp Kanata and how it helps children on a Gluten Free diet attend summer camp. This year's GF week is June 21-27.

Event Details
What - Recreational Open 5K Run/Walk (Co-ed)
When - Saturday, June 13, 2009
Time - 9:00 AM (meeting at 8:30 AM)
Location - Meredith College, Raleigh (click for map)
Team Web site: http://race.komennctriangle.org/goto/glutenfreeraleigh
Cost - $45 per person ($25 registration fee for Komen Race & $20 donation to Camp Kanata)
Deadline to Register: Tuesday, May 26, 2009

T-shirts have been donated by the GIG and will be provided to all event participants. The ENTIRE $20 registration fee (not the Komen $25 fee) will be donated to Camp Kanata. My goal is to have at least 25 participants which will raise $500. FYI - GIG uses approximately $450 in GF specialty foods each day at camp. There is no limit on the number of participants so feel free to include your family and friends. The more the merrier!

Event Sign up & Payment-
Event Registration is now closed.

Day of the Race Details

• The Recreational Open 5K Run/Walk (Co-ed) race begins at 9am on the campus of Meredith College in Raleigh. The Gluten Free Raleigh Team will meet at the Burger King parking lot at 3701 Hillsborough Street at 8:30 AM.
  
• Click here for a map of the race course.
• Click here for directions and parking information. A free shuttle runs from the RBC Center. You are encouraged to arrive at the RBC Center at least 1 hour before race time. In order to meet with the team, please arrive at the RBC Center at 7:30 AM and hop a bus to the race location.
  
• Since you are registering as part of a team, you do not have to do anything special or pick up any packets. As the team captain, I will get everything for you and distribute it to you the day of the race at 8:30 AM. You will be required to wear a race bib (which I will pick up) during the race.
• Click here for a Frequently Asked Questions page.
  

More about Komen
The NC Komen Race for the Cure is an annual event to raise money for breast cancer research. It is the largest foot race in the state of North Carolina and regularly has 20,000+ participants. The race has been held for 13 years and has raised more than $10 million in the fight against breast cancer.

Rather than organizing a run/walk event myself, I thought I would piggy-back on one of the most well-run, organized and popular run/walk events in Raleigh. Besides, I always walk in this thing anyway as do a lot of people I have talked to recently. At some point, there may become a separate Gluten Free Raleigh run/walk - so consider this a starting step to gauge interest. At least we will all be out there with Gluten Free shirts on raising awareness and donating money to two great causes while we are at it.

Please email me if you have any questions or need help with either registration process.

TAGS, Teens Advocating for Gluten Sensitivity

The following is taken from a recent article over at Gluten Free Durham.

I have recently learned of a new Teen national support group under the umbrella of The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). It is called TAGS: Teens Advocating for Gluten Sensitivity. This program will formally be debuted at the GIG conference in Seattle at the beginning of June. TAGS national will provide information for local teens to organize events in their own city. The website is in the beginning phases and can be accessed at TAGSatGIG.org
As a mom of an older teen with GF, I think this is a wonderful idea. It is important for children with gluten sensitivity to learn to advocate for themselves. As a teen, feeling "part" of a group is a big deal. Thanks to Amy Fantozzi (15), Kelsey LeBard(14) and Sophia Mozena(16), who are the groups founders, under the direction and support from GIG national office.

Thanks for letting us know about this program Debbie!

GIG's Chef to Plate National Awareness Campaign

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 3rd, 2009. The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) recently announced this day as the day of the Chef to Plate National Awareness Campaign - Celebrating Restaurants Serving Up Gluten Free Awareness. The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog plans on becoming a campaign leader and is looking for a restaurant in Raleigh with a Gluten Free menu to participate. Please let me know if you have a restaurant you would like to participate.

Chef to Plate National Awareness Campaign

Celebrating Restaurants Serving Up Gluten-Free Awareness
May 3, 2009

Endorsed by:
GlutenFree Passport
Gluten-Free on the Go

Participating Restaurants – Watch for listing

GIG launches a national awareness campaign for gluten-free living,
through the restaurants that support persons living with gluten intolerances.

Why: To provide support of those restaurants with gluten-free menus and spread awareness of Celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerances, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America celebrate those restaurants and spread awareness of gluten-free living through the national awareness program “Chef to Plate – Celebrating Restaurants Serving Up Gluten-Free Awareness”

“Helping Hands to Provide Peace of Mind” is a grass roots effort to support persons living with gluten intolerances through GIG’s various programs and activities. Grassroots efforts to spread awareness can accomplish a lot with minimal financial resources.

Campaign Goals:
-Spread national awareness of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance conditions during May, Celiac Awareness Month
-Spread recognition and awareness of restaurants with gluten-free menu options
-Bring Peace of Mind to persons with gluten intolerances when dining out
-Joining of restaurants across the country in a day of awareness

Who: Restaurants with gluten-free menus will be able to participate.

How: For information on how to participate as a restaurant or a campaign leader, contact the GIG using the following email.

Check out the following GIG Web site for more information.

Useful Resources: Gluten Intolerance Group's Hospital Stays Made Safe

The Gluten Intolerance Group has a whole series of useful publications on it's Web site. The latest addition is titled Hospital Stays Made Safe and features a lot of tips on how to safely navigate a hospital stay as a Celiac. It also contains sample letters from the GIG Executive Director which you can give to various members of the hospital staff including doctors, nurses, pharmacy staff, hospital dietitian and cafeteria workers., I've heard many complaints about this topic in the Raleigh area and intend to drive some change in this area. Until then, you can use this guide to assist you.

Being admitted to the hospital can be a frightening experience, especially those with Celiac disease or other gluten intolerances. Whether you are there for a day-surgery or for three weeks in rehabilitation, the hospital should be doing everything they can to meet the needs of your specific gluten-free diet. Share this information with your family and your health care providers (Dietitian, Pharmacist, Physicians) to ensure the best possible care while you are staying at the hospital.

Click here for the publication.