Like nothing the town has ever seen, The Brewer’s Kettle is introducing the first Food Truck Festival in Kernersville this Saturday, July 26 from 3 – 9 p.m., to help benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“This is something I have been planning on doing for a while, and I thought it would be something that would benefit Kernersville,” said Andy Kennedy, owner of The Brewer’s Kettle in Kernersville.
The event will feature 11 food trucks, live music from three bands, vendors, a silent auction, hosted by Belle Raisers, and craft beer and wine.
Kennedy said he chose to have the event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation because of his connection with Mark and Jessica Hanson, whose daughter Annabelle has the unforgiving disease.
Annabelle and her twin brother, Dominick, who does not have cystic fibrosis, were born one month early on May 19, 2011. Although they were early, Mark and Jessica were given no indication that there were any health issues with Annabelle, so they were released to go home. The only thing they recalled was that Dominick was one pound heavier than Annabelle, which they noted wasn’t unusual for twins who are born early.
It wasn’t until one month later that doctors called to tell them Annabelle had cystic fibrosis. At this point Dominick was three pounds heavier than his sister.
For Mark and Jessica, the idea of their daughter having a shortened life span and a more complicated life weighed heavy on their hearts.
Jessica explained in an earlier interview with the Kernersville News that cystic fibrosis affects multiple organs in the body, most specifically the lungs.
“People with cystic fibrosis are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Things that regular people are able to cough up, she isn’t able to do as well,” she said.
Fortunately, with the help of modern medicine and medical devices, Annabelle has managed to stay relatively healthy, but Mark and Jessica know she may not be healthy forever as the median life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis is 37 years.
Mark noted that recently there has been a new development in the drug industry for people with cystic fibrosis that could potentially improve Annabelle’s life.
According to www.cff.org, “Phase 3 clinical trials of ivacaftor (Kalydeco) in combination with lumacaftor (VX-809) for people with two copies of the F508del mutation of cystic fibrosis showed significant improvements in lung function and other key measures of the disease, according to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.”
“Based on these results, Vertex plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) by the end of 2014 to FDA for review, with possible approval in 2015,” the website said. “Results from the two 24-week clinical trials mark an important milestone for nearly 50 percent of people with cystic fibrosis – specifically those with two copies of F508del, the most common CF mutation. The potential treatment is the first to combine two pills to address the underlying genetic cause of CF in people with the F508del mutation.”
“This will be a significant improvement in the quality of life for Annabelle (and others with CF), but it’s not a cure,” Mark said.
For now, though, Annabelle has to use an inhaler and wear a large “smart vest” twice a day for 40 minutes. The “smart vest” vibrates and is designed to loosen anything that might be in her lungs. She also has to take dietary supplements as well as a high fat and high salt diet in order to maintain her weight.
Mark said he is looking forward to Saturday’s Food Truck Festival fundraiser at The Brewer’s Kettle.
“I’m looking forward to having a day out with good food and having another opportunity to raise awareness and funds to help advance the science (to help patients with CF),” he said.
Kennedy said they already have a number of items for the silent auction, including local artwork, gift package for Gone Jerky, a spa package, a new grill, beer and wine, a guitar, and more. There will also be tickets sold to raffle off a unique hammock from Boonedox Gear & Tackle and a Les Paul Gibson Guitar.
The food trucks that will be featured at the event include: Bandito Burrito, Crazy Rib Man, El Azteca, Food Freaks, Frog’s Toadly Good Eats, King Creole, My Dream Cakes, The Ice Queen, Tipsy’z Tavern, Urban Street Grill, and Wright Up Ur Galley.
Music for the event will begin at 3 p.m. with James Vincent, followed by The Brothers Hermanos at 5 p.m. and Disco Lemonade at 7 p.m.
Kennedy noted that attendees should bring cash for the food trucks.
The Brewer’s Kettle is located at 308 East Mountain St. For more information, call 336-992-3333, visit their website at www.thebrewerskettle.com or find them on Facebook at: The Brewer’s Kettle Kernersville.
