To the editor: Help Nicolas raise awareness, funds for celiac disease

Nicolas Houghton. Photo provided.

Nicolas Houghton is a 5^th grade student at Chester-Andover Elementary School. On Saturday,  May 10th, he will be running his first 5k race in Merrimack, N.H., to help provide clinical care and scientific research relating to celiac disease.

Nicolas was diagnosed with celiac when he was in the second grade, and would like to raise awareness of this disease. His team goal is $300 but he would like to raise even more.

Please join Nicolas in teaming up against celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by the protein gluten, found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. It can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms include anemia, weight loss, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, infertility and a variety of gastrointestinal problems. Untreated, celiac disease can be life threatening.

One out of every 133 Americans has celiac disease and most don’t know it. Says Nicolas, “Please support me in ‘Making Tracks for Celiacs,’ so that we may increase awareness and raise funds for research and local and national celiac initiatives.”

Go to www.celiacwalk.org for more information.

To pledge follow this link: http://celiacwalk.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1099758&lis=1&kntae1099758=0ECA74270A1B49119D56A1EC828EC54B&supId=404776594 to visit Nicolas’ personal webpage to make a secure online donation and help me in my efforts to support Center for Celiac Research.

“Encourage your family members and friends to join in our efforts to provide clinical care and scientific research relating to celiac disease,” says Nicolas.

Many thanks in advance for your generous support.

Angelica Houghton
Nicolas’ mom
Chester, VT