FAMILY SCREENING AND FUNDRAISING EVENT

Please note that the screening information is VERY time sensitive!

First- and second-degree relatives of people with celiac disease are at an above-average risk of having the condition themselves. The longer an undiagnosed person goes untreated, the more that person may be exposed to related health problems, some of them very serious.

So it's good that the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University is offering family screening at Rye High School on Sunday, October 14, 2007 from 9 am to 5 pm. Registration is $25 per person and the following testing criteria must be met:

You must be on a regular gluten-containing diet for at least 60 days prior to testing.

You must be 6+ years old.

You must be a first- or second-degree relative of someone with celiac disease.

You must pre-register online before Monday, October 1, 2007 at www.celiacdiseasecenter.org. (FYI, I don't think the pre-registration is up-and-running at the time of this post.)

The family screening is just one of several activities taking place at Rye High that day. The other big event is the Colin Leslie Walk for Celiac Disease, which will raise money for the Celiac Disease Center. Pre-registration is $15 for each child 17 and under and $20 for each adult. You will receive a free t-shirt for registering for the walk by Monday, October 1, 2007.

And that's not all! There will also be exhibits, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, a gluten-free vendor fair, and gluten-free lunch available for purchase.