Our Co-Founder Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE Honoured with 'Game Changer' Award at Women of the Year 2024
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE / Photo credit: https://www.lizislesphotography.com
I am incredibly honoured to have been awarded the Women of the Year Game Changer Award at the Women of the Year 70th Lunch and Awards ceremony, which was held this week at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The day was surreal. 450 incredible women had lunch in beautiful surroundings, championing and supporting each other’s victories, journeys, and stories, recognising each other’s strength, courage, resilience, and determination to make a positive difference in the world.
The beautiful Emma Barnett, a BBC broadcaster, presented me with the Game Changer Award in honour of ‘…exceptional contributions to improving food safety and advocating for people living with allergies.’ My award sponsors also came up to the stage to stand with me, women together, championing The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation’s mission, achievements, and desire to make the world a safer place for future generations.
A short video was shown of my journey to where I am now and as I thanked the audience, I was overcome with such emotion, that my heart literally constricted as I dedicated the award to my sorely missed, Natasha.
In that moment I recognised how lucky I am because of the work that I do, that I can say her name every day and tell her story to so many people to raise awareness of food allergies. Many parents who lose a child don’t have that privilege - in fact, many have told me that people close to them often prefer not to speak their name in case it causes more sorrow and pain. It doesn’t - saying their child’s name as often as possible is a bereaved mother’s greatest gift.
Natasha is with me every step of the way. It was she, not I that was incredibly brave - she had battled with food allergies and asthma, she wanted her life to be meaningful, she wanted her life to make a difference. This award is for her.
