Global Alopecia Mission

“No one in the world will fight harder for their child than a parent. While it is extremely important that we always help build our children’s self-esteem and confidence in the face of AA, we cannot lose sight of another goal…finding a cure for Alopecia Areata,” is the thinking behind the creation of GAM KiDs, according to Lana Becker, Asst Executive Director of Global Alopecia Mission USA and now head of GAM KiDs.

Lana, whose son Jacob developed Alopecia Totalis at 8 months, goes on to explain that she felt compelled to create the new group for parents, like her, who are ready to fight, to share thoughts and ideas, and most importantly to raise money for the future of their children; a future that is free of Alopecia Areata! Continue reading →

Geoff Taylor of Vancouver, BC unveils his interpretation of the dark side of Alopecia Areata designed for Global Alopecia Mission’s campaign to highlight the impact of of AA and promote support for our research efforts. Continue reading →

Alopecia Areata only received 1 research grant per million people affected in 2010 from the US National Institutes of Health, while another rarer disease that is highly curable received 1 grant per 200 people affected.

Alopecia Areata is a common disease affecting roughly 1.7% of the global population. (5.1 million people in the US and another 1 million in the UK, alone). Despite its prevalence, this disease only received a total of 5 grants in research funding in 2010 from the US National Institutes of Health. That is only 1 research grant per million of people affected. Research funding going into a very rare disease, which affects less than 0.0001% of the US population (30,000 people per year), amounted to 150 grants. That translates to 1 research grant per 200 people afflicted by this less prevalent, curable disease. WHY?

How far are we from finding an effective treatment or a cure? Some believe answers are not far off. We can’t know if we don’t make research a primary focus. If you feel the same and would like to help… Continue reading →

Anna Fitzpatrick, of New Zealand, has enthusiatically agreed to lend her time, talent, and celebrity image to promote the GAM platform of research, treatment and a cure for Alopecia Areata as Global Ambassador through general media activity, public service announcements, blogging, etc.

Summing up her feelings about what GAM is doing, Anna, an Alopecia Universalis patient since age 7, says: “I am happy to be a voice to help spread the message…It is such a great cause.” Continue reading →

We’ve all been told there is no cure for Alopecia Areata (AA). Like many of you, I’ve always found that frustrating to hear. I’ve had AA for over 35 years so I know the many challenges we face, living in a world that judges us by our appearance. I’ve known the heartache of having a needle injected into my scalp and to have the non-treated area grow back first. I’ve endured the many years of being told by family doctors and dermatologists ‘we’re getting closer to an answer and a cure’. I’ve experienced the fear and the fragile hope of not wanting to lose all of my hair. Despite living most of my life in various stages of hair loss and for the last 10 years, no hair at all, I’ve always believed that somehow I’d figure out what my own body needed to grow my hair, and to heal my body.

Nutrition Can Play a Role in Alopecia AreataSeveral years ago I took my passion for food and health to a new level and became certified as a holistic health coach. I was taught by some of the best functional medicine doctors in the world. I began to see the connection of the powerful impact of food, the incredible ability of our bodies to heal themselves and the impact that my diet has had on my health, including having alopecia areata.

For the last several years I’ve made many changes in my diet. I will admit, I began noticing the ‘hopeful’ thoughts I had given up on years ago, were beginning to creep back into my thinking. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I looked in the mirror hoping to see some hair growth but now I was. Continue reading →