How to get involved in Gluten-free challenge

The challenge aims to raise awareness of the one in 100 people in the UK who have coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten for which there is no cure or medication; the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet for life. If left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to infertility, osteoporosis and bowel cancer. On average it takes 13 years to get diagnosed with many people being initially misdiagnosed with IBS. What can you do? • Sign up to the Challenge and pledge your support at www.coeliac.org.uk/glutenfreepledge • Get your work to go gluten-free for lunches or the buy gluten-free biscuits for the office • Invite friends to take part in 'Come Dine Gluten-free', taking it in turns to shop for gluten-free ingredients and cook gluten-free meals throughout the week • Go out for dinner with friends and all order gluten-free options to highlight to eating establishments the demand for gluten-free food • Schools could hold a gluten-free cake stall or cook a gluten-free recipe in food technology classes • Talk to your local restaurant and ask them to provide gluten-free options on their menu • When out shopping, check the back of packets to see how many items include gluten and choose the gluten-free options • Get sponsored and go gluten-free for the whole week. Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Coeliac UK said: "Many people may have struggled for years to get diagnosed with coeliac disease and are then faced with a complete change in diet and lifestyle. For them it is not a matter of choice or a faddy diet, it is essential for the rest of their life." "If you are able to take on the whole week of the Challenge you will truly begin to experience some of the many restrictions faced by thousands of people across the UK. While following a gluten-free diet is becoming easier all the time, there are still many obstacles encountered, particularly when eating out. "I encourage you all to get out your diaries and plan, even just for one day, to experience the Gluten-free Challenge for yourself. Just by popping into your local café, restaurant or work canteen and asking what they have that is gluten-free is spreading awareness and will encourage caterers to consider offering more options."