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Addison Reno's little brother, Colin, can barely be near a peanut without a potentially dangerous allergic reaction.

When the two go to birthday parties, Colin, 3, has to pack food from home, and when it comes time to eat cake, he has to eat cupcakes brought from home. His sister eats the homemade cupcakes with Colin so that he doesn't have to feel different from the other kids, according to their mother, Stacy Reno.

Addison, a third-grader at New Market Elementary School, wanted to find a way to raise awareness about food allergies, and after an impassioned plea to her principal, Jason Anderson, Addison convinced him that the school should do a Pajama Day fundraiser to help people like her brother.

"Addison was motivated to raise money for food allergy research because when you have a sibling/child that has severe food allergies you are living in constant fear of a reaction," Stacy Reno wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette.

An added incentive for kids at New Market Elementary to bring in a $1 donation to help the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, an organization that seeks to raise money to study food allergies, was that Anderson himself promised to wear his pajamas if the students could raise $400.

Anderson said that after hearing Addison's "well-thought out and well-planned" idea for the fundraiser, he agreed to dress in his pajamas to help out.

However, he said that more embarrassing than wearing comfortable pants and a T-shirt to school was to see his face super-imposed on a baby in blue-footed pajamas used as a poster to promote the event. However, he said that he wouldn't let his embarrassment outweigh his desire to support a good cause. "I'm not too proud," Anderson said.

The children surpassed their goal, raising $900 for the network. There are about 530 students at New Market Elementary School, which meant that some students contributed more than $1.

"With the right motivation, kids can do great things," Anderson said.

Addison was allowed to put up posters in each classroom for the month leading up to the fundraiser, and her work paid off. Most of the students in school seemed to understand what a food allergy is, and how serious it can be.

Victoria Captain, an 8-year-old second-grader, said she knew some of the possible symptoms of allergic reaction to food. "Their cheeks get really puffy," she said.

Olivia Gagne, also 8 years old and in second grade, said that a food allergy is "when people can't eat that food or they get really sick."

Olivia said she enjoyed the opportunity to wear her PJs to school, but she said it was almost too comfortable. "When you get tired after recess or gym, all you want to do is fall asleep," she said.

Aubrey Dearstine, an 8-year-old second-grader, said she wanted to wear her pajamas, and she had donated her money, but she forgot to wear them on Friday. She said she still felt good to help raise money to research food allergies.

Addison said she was proud to be able to help her little brother, who visited the school on Friday. When asked if she felt like she had accomplished something good, she shyly nodded and smiled.

By the time Colin is Addison's age, he will have to sit isolated from the other children at the "allergy table," with other children who suffer from food allergies.

Stacy Reno said that her hope is that by the time he is that age, enough money and research will have been done to allow Colin to sit with the rest of his peers, or enjoy restaurant food without fear.

"Although many chain restaurants are good about educating their employees on food ingredients and cross-contamination, some still do not quite get the seriousness of even a slight exposure," Stacy Reno wrote in an e-mail.

E-mail Christian Brown at chbrown@gazette.net.