Emery Kutz knows only too well how food can bring people together – and separate them from one another. “Sometimes I feel left out,” says Emery, 11, who has celiac disease and cannot eat foods that contain gluten. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), 1 in 100 people worldwide have celiac disease, and 80% of Americans go undiagnosed with the disease. Although additional treatment options are being explored, lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet is the only treatment. “People should know what it is,” said Emery. “It’s not a known thing, and I think it should be because a lot of people don’t know they have it.” For her bat mitzvah project, Emery wanted to raise money for CDF to fund research. On Sunday November 14th, she organized the first personal 5K run to raise awareness about celiac disease and bring the celiac community together. 65 people attended, including local gluten-free social media influencer Katelyn Duffy, known on Instagram as eatglutenfreeaz. “I feel like I’m not alone and people are kind enough to support me,” she said. About 65 people supported Emery on Sunday November 14th. Courtesy of Elana Kutz By November 21, she had raised more than $ 5,500. Elana Kutz, Emery’s mom, follows Duffy on Instagram and asked her to share the information about Emery’s 5K with her followers. “It was really great that she came,” said Elana. Emery received four cases of bottled water from a local trader Joe’s. A local Sprouts donated a gift card to the winner of the run, and Gluten-Free Creations bakery donated some gluten-free cookies to learn to do something and be more independent, ”she said. Her bat mitzvah in Or Tzion parish is scheduled for May 14th. Elana said celiac made her daughter sensitive to other people’s needs to ensure she didn’t feel left out. “Her heart is huge,” she said. Elana found out about the Celiac Foundation’s national virtual 5K three or four years ago while subscribing to the Celiac Disease Newsletter. “We always thought it would be really cool if we had an organized event here on site, but I never wanted to be the one who planned it,” she said. Elana is proud to see her daughter take the idea and realize reality, she said. “It was so meaningful to see Emery speak confidently about celiac disease to others as she shares her story, asks for donations for her 5K, and wants to make a difference,” she said. “Emery has shown passion, courage and maturity with this project.” When Emery was diagnosed at the age of one, Elana felt that she needed a support group. “I didn’t know anyone with celiac disease,” she said. She heard about a group in another town called Raising Our Celiac Kids and started a Phoenix chapter. She organized several annual events, like parenting educational events and a Halloween chest or treat where everyone knew the candy was safe. The group is still active and called Generation GF, but Elana no longer leads it. Elana has always wanted Emery to grow up with other kids like her, and at the same time, it was helpful for Elana to have a group of mothers to reach out to and share ideas about new products, restaurants, sleep camps, or other gluten-free parenting situations .Elana and Emery hope to make the 5K an annual tradition to bring the Phoenix celiac community together, ”said Emery. JN
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