National Alopecia Areata Foundation

Hi everyone! My name is Maya Holton and I'm 18 years old. I am hoping to share my story to raise awareness for my autoimmune disease, Alopecia Areata. If you choose to donate, your donation will go towards the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), who work hard to research a common cure, fund wigs, and support people suffering from this life altering disease.

In early February 2018, I was diagnosed Alopecia Areata. Since then this disease has led to hair loss on about 85% of my scalp. Going through this has been one of the most challenging things I have had to face. Unfortunately, I was faced with this diagnosis in a vital time of my life and will always remember special occasions, such as my high school graduation and beginning of college, with slight sadness. The effect this disease had on my life and my family's was truly overwhelming and saddening. Simple, everyday tasks like brushing my hair and showering became nearly impossible due to the large sums of hair that would fall out.  Since my diagnosis, I have been fortunate enough to have met amazing doctors and been prescribed xeljanz, a drug typically for rheumatoid arthritis. I have seen its true wonderful effects for my hair and am hoping to raise money so more people like me can experience a cure for a disease that is thought to be incurable.

With the holiday season upon us, I am making this page in exchange for gifts in hopes to raise awareness for my disease and to educate my friends and family.  I thank you for you generosity and taking the time to learn my story. I wish you the happiest of holidays!

Gunpla Talk is proud to host our first ever charity event where your donations not only go to a good cause, but give you a chance to win an awesome prize!

All of us at Gunpla Talk have wanted to do something for charity for a while now and it seemed like the perfect time. So, in association with USAGundam Store, the charity that we're raising money for is the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (www.naaf.org) and it helps people with Alopecia Areata, which is an autoimmune skin disease, that causes hair loss on the scalp, face and sometimes on other areas of the body. People of all ages, both sexes and all ethnic groups can develop Alopecia Areata. It often first appears during childhood and can be different for everyone who has it.

By making a donation you'll also be entering our giveaway of a Perfect Grade Astray Red Frame. 

One lucky winner will be chosen at random from the list of donors to receive this kit. This fundraiser and giveaway is open to everyone around the world. (Unfortunately, Singapore residents are unable to participate due to a donation limitation of GoFundMe.)

After reaching our goal or at the end of the fundraiser all collected donations will be directly transferred from GoFundMe to NAAF. So, make sure you hit up www.usagundamstore.com for all your Gunpla needs, and please give as much as you can to help out people afflicted with Alopecia Areata!

Lastly, please share this campaign everywhere you can! Share it in groups, on your social media accounts, with friends and family, anywhere! The more attention this campaign receives, the more money we can raise for a great charity!

If you have a local hobby shop please print out this flyer and ask if you can post it in their shop!

https://funds.gofundme.com/index.php?route=printmedia/donationposter&print=1&url=gunplatalk

Thanks,
Gunpla Talk

Everyone is fighting their own battle. EVERYONE has their own story.

My name is McKenna Reitz and I have Alopecia Universalis.  Over two    and half years ago I lost all my hair on my body due to this auto-immune disease that attacks healthy hair follicles.  It affects as many as 6.8 million people in the United States. People of all ages, both sexes and all ethnic groups can develop alopecia. Currently, there is no cure for the disease.  

I am not sick (thankfully), I have Alopecia. 


It has been an emotional rollercoaster these past few years.  It has          been detrimental physically, mentally and emotionally.   I have gone        through many different injections, treatments, medications and                therapies to try to have some hair regrowth and have been                            unsuccessful.  I still have some bad days,  but I am a firm believe that       this happened for a reason.  When I am not wearing a wig, I am wearing a baseball hat and most people believe that I am fighting cancer.  That makes this disease even more difficult because I would rather those       positive thoughts and prayers to go to those who are battling cancer.

I have found my purpose in life because of Alopecia and that is to        make sure that everyone  understands that we ALL have our own          stories.  Everyone has their own challenge/battle that they are fighting and regardless how big or small it is we must remain strong.  

Being the mother of two very young daughters, I live everyday to show them that WE are strong physically and mentally and we won't let            something like this define us rather WE DEFINE IT! 

I am fundraising to raise awareness of Alopecia.  

To prove to others that WE are strong and we won't allow Alopecia to  define us, I will be competing in THREE sprint Triathlons this summer     in Sylvania, OH that consists of:

400 yard swim

13 mile bike ride

3.1 mile run

Quarry Ridge, 6/27
Trilium, 7/22
Sylvania, 8/5

During my race, I will be wearing a shirt with all donor names on it! 

With your support, we will:

*continue to advance research so there there are two treatments            approved by the FDA for Alopecia Areata that are safe, affordable, effective and easy to use. 

*increase our rease so that every person who needs support in connected with a mentor to receive one-on-one assistance and know they are  not alone. 

*All donations will go to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. 


For more information, please visit www.naaf.org.  

Your support will help me to inspire many to NEVER allow anything to define YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

Our 4 year old daughter has had Alopecia almost her entire life. Recently there have been some major strides in the research of Alopecia, whereas until now it has just been a condition she would have to live with. It is our hope that one day there will be a treatment option out there if she or others with this condition wish to try it. All donations go directly to NAAF which has been instrumental in the research development. Thank you guys so much for your support.