Max McKenzie, a vibrant teenager, tragically passed away in Victoria in 2021 due to a hypoxic brain injury caused by asthma triggered by food anaphylaxis. His parents, Ben and Tamara McKenzie, have now established an Australian school-based initiative to raise awareness about food allergies and equip young people with the knowledge and tools to respond to an allergy emergency.
The ‘Live to the Max’ initiative is not only for those with food allergies but all young people. It teaches essential skills such as recognising signs of anaphylaxis, using an EpiPen, and calling emergency services. The goal is to ensure that young people are part of the solution in making environments safer and reducing the death rate from food allergies to zero.
So far, ten schools have joined the initiative, and the program is gaining momentum, having recently aired on Channel 9’s A Current Affair. Schools can participate by hosting a ‘Live to the Max’ day, which includes activities to highlight allergy awareness. The ultimate aim is for the initiative to become part of the school curriculum or widely adopted to normalise conversations about life-threatening food allergies.
For more information about Live to the Max, head to their website.
