The ALEIA Project hosted the Northland 5k for Food Allergies along Lake Superior in Duluth on Saturday morning.
DULUTH, Minn. — The ALEIA Project hosted the Northland 5k Race for Food Allergies along the Duluth Lakewalk Saturday morning. Runners and walkers of all ages crossed the finish line at Leif Erickson Park in support of allergy awareness efforts.
The ALEIA Project hosted its annual 5K fundraiser, with over 100 people taking part. For many of the participants, the run along the lake was about more than just getting in more steps.
“I have a gluten allergy myself, so I know firsthand how food allergies can impact a person’s life,” says runner Megan Wilson. “I love that this organization is helping to raise awareness, especially in schools. As an adult, I know it can be hard to get your friends to understand that just removing the croutons from your salad isn’t okay. The fact that they work for children and adults with food allergies and help raise awareness that it’s a real issue really means a lot to me.”
For the co-founders, the ALEIA project has always had a personal meaning: the name ALEIA itself holds a special place in their hearts as it spells out the names of their children with severe food allergies: Alex, Lorelai, Everett, Ian and Ava.
“We started around 2021 and we’ve been working on food allergy awareness,” said Emily Homan, president of the ALEIA Project. “The co-founders are myself, Erica Hanson and Rose Sterling, and we all have children with anaphylactic food allergies. We saw that there was kind of a gap in our schools and in the community at large, and we wanted to fill that gap with support, resources and awareness.”
The 5k race is ALEIA Project’s largest fundraiser of the year. Money raised helps fund activities throughout the year, including free resources for families and allergy awareness classes. Along with donations, the race fosters a sense of community.
“As someone with allergies, it makes me feel like I’m not alone,” Wilson said, “and there’s all different ages here! From the little kids that walked past me to all of the people here today, it’s just amazing.”
“It’s really nice to have everybody out here,” Homan added, “I’m really grateful that everybody came out and I’m grateful the weather was great, but it’s just nice to see everybody out here running.”
Once they crossed the finish line, runners, joggers and walkers were able to enjoy the beautiful weather with friends and family. A DJ blasted music, kids played lawn games and there was plenty of allergy-friendly food available.
But that’s not the end goal of Project ALEIA. The organization says there’s still a lot more to do to support and empower the Northland’s food allergy community. Homan says it’s something everyone can get involved in.
“If you’re unsure or don’t know, ask,” Homan says. “Don’t assume. Don’t assume someone is overreacting. If you don’t understand what’s going on, ask questions. More than anything, people with food allergies want you to ask them to find out more about how you can help them, so you can understand better.”
