I have had Alopecia Areata since I was about 12 years old and haven't had a full head of hair since. Alopecia Areata is an auto immune condition which causes patchy hairless. Other types of alopecia such as totalis universalis cause full loss of hair on the hair ot the whole body.

In April 2019 I lost approximately 75% of my hair, the most extensive loss I've ever experienced which resulted in me shaving my remaining hair and being virtually bald.

The past few months have been difficult and accepting such a drastic change to my appearance has been difficult. It's knocked my confidence and affected my mental health. To some it might be "just hair" but anyone with Alopecia will tell you that it's more than that and it's effects are huge.

I'm extremely fortunate to have supportive friends and family who have helped me come to terms with losing my hair. This alongside free NHS prescriptions which mean I can access wigs have been fundamental for me the past few months. However not everyone is this lucky.

Alopecia UK is a small charity which provides support, awareness and research to improve the lives of people with Alopecia. They run support groups online and in person, have a telephone helpline and arrange trips for children and young people with Alopecia so they can meet others like them. To many, including me, their support is invaluable.

Alopecia UK relies on the support of fundraisers and donors to continue the fantastic work it does. In May 2020 I will be running the EMF 10k to raise money for Alopecia UK and would extremely grateful for any donations.

Thank you for supporting me with my fundraising efforts. I really appreciate your support and so does Alopecia UK. Rebecca Dey