Given the increasing number of people affected by these diseases and the myriad of food service establishments, food truck operators, mom and pop shops, catering facilities, country clubs, and fast food chains, it is critical that these vendors have an understanding of the dietary limitations people with autoimmune diseases face when simply wanting to eat outside their home.

By creating awareness in the industry, grandma may now be able to attend her granddaughter’s wedding, ones’ spouse can plan a 50th anniversary celebration, and your daughter can go out to eat with the family on a Friday night without the stigma of being labeled as “special”.

The goal is via food trucks, fundraisers, and other activities designed to improve awareness, to inform and open the eyes of chefs and food service operators that with little effort, they can accommodate the growing number of people with autoimmune diseases.

In addition, the MS Food and Fitness Challenge seeks to educate the families of sufferers of these autoimmune diseases, the importance of proper diet and exercise protocols to help enhance their own body’s immune system to battle these diseases. This can be implemented by providing resources to affected individuals so that they may be enrolled with certified instructors who teach exercise regimens in person, at facilities, or via Zoom.

We further anticipate providing various resources to those in need of exercise apparatus such as resistance bands and other equipment to those who are suffering and who cannot get out of the home to exercise.