The Silly Yak Shirt Company was started in April 2000 by members of the Marino Family to spread the word about Celiac Disease in a fun and fashionable way. A portion of our proceeds goes to The Celiac Disease Research Center at Columbia University Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases.

President and NYC resident Peter M. Marino was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 1996 after twenty-something years of being an underweight and anemic lad. After a routine visit to the doctor, he was diagnosed with a hernia, which was strange since skinny Peter never lifted a heavy thing in his life. Blood work showed very low levels of iron, fat, and vitamins. He sought an answer to this dilemma by visiting five different specialists who poked and prodded and came up with nothing.

Then, one day, his younger sister Gina, who was known for lifting heavy things in addition to being a well-respected Network Chiropractor on Long Island (www.align-me.com), told Peter about this little known condition she read about called Celiac Disease - an autoimmune disease which affects the small intestine when gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley) is ingested. He heeded his little sisters' advice and high-tailed it to the local gastroenterologist at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan.

After an exciting upper endoscopy that Peter insisted on viewing in his drugged state, he was confirmed a Celiac. His nutritionist and cousin Tina Newmann (www.nutridyn.com) helped him find the right foods to eat, and Peter started feeling 100% better. He then went on to tour in STOMP (www.stomponline.com), a physically gruelling percussion show that involved lifting and pounding. And little Peter gained weight, taught himself various design and Web programs on his portable MAC and said, "You know, someone should really make T-shirts that say clever things about Celiac Disease. Hey! Maybe it should be me!"

Pete's mother and father, Flo and Mike, agreed and soon became the V.P. and Treasurer of THE SILLY YAK SHIRT COMPANY. Why not? They still lived in the same house where Peter and Gina grew up in East Meadow, Long Island - and since the kids were gone, they thought it a good idea to turn the old bedrooms into a mini-warehouse and office. Mike had years of shipping experience from working the mail section at Eastern Airlines, and Flo had quite a few years under her belt working retail and customer service. It seemed like a perfect "family affair".

Now, between shuttling from Manhattan to Long Island, this trio of Celiac and Celiac supporters brings you a new company that encourages you to proudly wear your condition on your shirt! Hence, our motto: "CLOTHES THAT SAY SOMETHING!"

So go ahead and order some of our shirts: one for you, one for your spouse or lover, one for your doctor, one for the cat (well...that might be pushing it). Because every time you wear it, you are spreading the word...and people will ask questions...and you will give them answers...and hopefully we can raise awareness about Celiac Disease. Then, someday, we can look back and say, "Remember when no one even knew what Celiac Disease was? Boy have times changed!"

Thanks for reading this.

Now go get a gluten-free muffin and get yourself a SILLY YAK SHIRT.