Inspiration Award - Linda Monahan

I am pleased to announce our second recipient of the Breads From Anna® Inspiration Award is Linda Monahan. I was lucky enough to meet Linda when I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Unsure of what gluten even was at the time, my doctor suggested I give Linda, the leader of a local support group, a call. Linda helped me more than I think she’ll ever know. A stranger to living with Celiac Disease, I was comforted and amazed by her willingness to help others living with the disease.

ot;MsoNormal">Linda has been president of The American Celiac Support Group in Providence, Rhode Island for over 15 years now and has helped over 5000 people of all ages in that time. Linda’s husband Bob, who she considers her right and left hand man, also volunteers with the group. It only seems fitting then that the group is a family support group with an educational base as Linda’s and Bob’s training is both in education. Linda’s group has an informative website, www.Celiac SupportGroup.com, which has a host of health food stores, vendors and restaurants that offer gluten-free items. The group still meets monthly at local restaurants as well as holds large group meetings which offer speakers, vendors, chefs, demos and more.

Linda’s motivation for becoming president of the support group was not in her own diagnosis but in that of her two daughters. At the time she became president, her then 13 year old daughter was critically ill surviving with a central line. It turns out; she had been misdiagnosed with celiac disease for many years. Sometime after her daughter was diagnosed, another of Linda’s daughters, as well as herself, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Linda says she became president because she never wanted anyone to suffer or almost die like her daughter almost did. In Linda’s words, “I do it to honor my daughters”.

Thank You Linda,

Anna and the Breads From Anna® Team

If you know someone who has had a positive impact on the gluten-free community and feel they deserve recognition, please let us know by emailing info@breadsfromanna.com