Did you know that food allergies affect 1 in every 13 children in the U.S.? That is a lot of children. As many as 15 million adults have some kind of food allergy, too.

I heard about the Dallas FARE Walk for Food Allergy from BubbleLife Media's publisher, Saffie Farris. She has a son who is allergic to all dairy items—he has to check every single label for any food he eats and has trained himself to be extra diligent in checking for cross-contamination. 

“It’s a very anxiety-filled lifestyle,” Farris said about her son’s allergy, because he must compulsively be on guard about his food and how it was prepared. It’s a serious issue—according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room every three minutes. These allergies can cause a range of symptoms—anything from a rash to anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that can involve difficulty breathing and/or reduced blood pressure. An allergic reaction to food without quick treatment could result in death.

I never knew food allergies were so dangerous or deadly until I started doing some research. And here’s another kicker: a 2013 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 50 percent increase in food allergies between 1997 and 2011. So, the number of people with food allergies is rapidly growing, but no one knows why. 

The most common food allergens are really common foods: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish, according to FARE. And the worst part? There’s no cure for food allergies.

That’s why FARE is hosting a walk in Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Bachman Lake Park located at 3500 Northwest Highway—to fund “food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness.”

The 2013 Dallas FARE Walk has a goal of raising $30,000 toward food allergy research, and they’re about one-fifth of the way there so far. Help support the cause and register for the walk, or learn more here.