Kindergartner Passes Out Freeze Pops On Friday To Raise Food-Allergy Awareness

Caption: Pint-sized food allergy warrior Catherine Hedderman, 5, at last year’s Freeze Pop giveaway.

She wowed us last year with her yummy Freeze Pop stand to raise money for Food Allergy Research Education. Today (Friday, Aug. 22), St. Catherine’s kindergartner Catherine Hedderman will be out in front of her house again at 10808 S. Kenneth Ave. in Oak Lawn offering a rainbow of Freeze Pop flavors and other allergy-free treats from 4 to 7 p.m. in exchange for donations for FARE.

Catherine lives with life-threatening food allergies to milk, egg, wheat and beef. She was able to raise $1,100 last year for food allergy research and hopes to increase donations in her second year. All donations will be given to FARE, specifically the FARE food allergy walk in Lincoln Park on Oct. 5.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of food allergies and showcase the importance of information and inclusion of those that live with food allergies,” said Courtney Hedderman, Catherine’s mom.

The south suburban girl’s event is a ramp up to the FARE walk, where the Hedderman’s team, Cruisin’ for Catherine, will be participating in the three-mile walk around Lincoln Park Zoo. Catherine is an active young girl, currently participating in a clinical trial for wheat allergies at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, detailed on her mother’s blog, ForMyCatherine.

FARE works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in 13 children in the United States—or roughly two in every classroom.

Also, the Heddermans’ will be joined by eight ither families throughout the Chicago area on Friday, who will be championing the cause of food allergy research and education in their communities by giving away Freeze pops. All of the families have children with life-threatening food allergies.