Expressive Dance Raises Funds for Alopecia Charity

Sue Hampton, a children’s author who has the hair loss condition Alopecia, has completed 4 hours of sponsored expressive dance to raise money for charity. The author, 51, from Berkhamstead, is an ambassador for the charity Alopecia UK, and raised over £750 through her 4 hour dance event, with support from a range of spectators aged from 4 to 85.

Sue’s next campaign to raise money for Alopecia is the ‘Be a Writer’ quiz, which will be rolled out to children at Greenway School and Westfield School in Berkhamstead. Children will each pay a £1 entry fee and will be asked to choose the missing word from a sentence in one of the author’s books. The winner (the child who chooses the most creative word) will receive a signed copy of one of Sue’s books and all proceeds will go to Alopecia UK.

Alopecia UK

There are several other events that have taken place to raise money for Alopecia UK, which provides support, information and advice for people affected by Alopecia. The Mad March Hair Walk on March 2nd, for instance, saw 90 people sporting a variety of crazy wigs take to the streets to raise money for the charity.

Their website advertises a number of local support groups across the UK and also provides information for children, teenagers and adults who have been diagnosed with the condition. There is also a supplier directory to assist those looking for headwear, wigs or anything else.

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia Areata affects 1 or 2 people in every 1,000. It’s most common in young people aged 15 to 29 and affects both men and women equally. The condition is characterised by sudden patchy hair loss. Celebrity sufferers of Alopecia, such as Gail Porter, have raised awareness of the condition in the UK and led to increased support for campaigns and fundraising initiatives.

The exact cause of Alopecia is unknown but it is classed as an auto-immune condition. Severe shock, extreme stress or even pregnancy are thought to be possible triggers. Alopecia Areata should be treated as soon as possible or it could lead to Alopecia Totalis or Alopecia Universalis, which are much more difficult to treat.