Our girls have a boy in their classroom who is so allergic to peanuts that he cannot even be near something made in a factory where peanuts might be present. His mom attends every school function to monitor his food since he's not quite old enough to do it himself.
It's for families like his, and all the other families struggling with peanut allergies, that I'm glad to see the Chicago Wolves have two peanut-free games on the schedule this season. This is more than just a promotional event for the team. For Chicago Wolves center Christian Hanson, it's personal.
He learned the hard way that you can’t be too cautious or too vigilant when it comes to nut allergies. After finishing a game with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins last season, Hanson capped his normal postgame routine by drinking a protein shake. Unfortunately, it came from an uncleansed blender that had been used to concoct a shake that included peanut butter.
Though the 27-year-old ingested a trace amount of nut residue, he suffered an intense reaction within minutes.
According to a team press release, Hanson said, "I was wearing my
suit and they had to give me an EpiPen in the locker room, put me on a stretcher and wheel me out in my suit past the other team. I had to go to the hospital and spend the night.”
The Wolves recognize the percentage of Americans diagnosed with food allergies has been rising steadily for years. As many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, including one of every 13 children under the age of 18. With that in mind, the Wolves have renewed their partnership with Enjoy Life Foods and Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) to provide a
pair of Peanut Awareness Days this season.
The first game is at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, at Allstate Arena. The second will be Sunday, March 23. Long before the puck is dropped for both games, Allstate Arena’s Section 116 will be power-washed and cleaned to ensure fans with nut allergies can enjoy a game at ease. In addition, the arena’s concession stands will not serve peanut-related food items.
As a family of hockey nuts, we'll use any excuse to go to a game. For families with peanut allergies to contend with, this is a special opportunity to see a game in a peanut-free space.
A portion of the proceeds generated from Peanut Awareness Day will go to FARE. For ticket information, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com. Be sure to mention that you want to sit in Section 116 if peanut allergies are a concern.
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