Tell us a bit about your allergy and free from journey
My allergy and free from journey includes being coeliac, having a nut allergy, a very random cucumber allergy, and living with eczema and topical steroid withdrawal. The hardest part is knowing life will never feel fully “normal.” Food, social plans, travel, skincare, even everyday decisions come with a mental checklist of risks. You learn to get by, but there is always that quiet worry about what might trigger a reaction or flare.
Humour helps. One of my favourite family stories is my dad packing a Snickers in my lunch shortly after my nut allergy diagnosis. He mixed up the lunchboxes with my sister, but we still joke he was trying to get rid of me. It sums up how messy navigating allergies in real life can be.
Why have you joined the Allergy & free From Ambassador Programme?
I have been to the Allergy and Free From Show in London for the past two years, and it genuinely sends electricity through my body. It is one of the only places I have ever felt fully understood and included. I love food, so being surrounded by safe gluten free treats feels like joy. Saying yes to becoming an Ambassador felt like an honour because this show has given me so much.
what are you most looking forward to about the show in May?
I am a northerner at heart, but Birmingham is home now, and I love that the show is coming here this year. I am most excited to see my community, reconnect with brands I already work with, and meet new ones. If you live with allergies or follow a free from lifestyle, this show is basically all of your Christmases rolled into one.
You can meet Amy and our other ambassadors at the show on 9-10 May at the NEC Birmingham. Get your tickets to attend here.