September is Alopecia Awareness Month

And what better way to start off the month than by organising a Alopecia UK Flash Mob.

The aim: to raise awareness of Alopecia UK Awareness, and the need for research into the condition.

So, Alopecia UK, a great charity run by some wonderful volunteers, sent invites to members to see who would be interested in taking part. I love the entertainment and surprise element of flash mobs, and of course, it’s just FUN, so I jumped at the chance to be involved in something so exciting!!

Of course, getting closer to the time, my nerves started kicking in, I reminded myself I don’t like standing up in front of people, never mind declaring I have Alopecia in front of loads of strangers in a public place, but… I just knew I had to go through with it.
Not only was it liberating, as I have posted all the pics on my Facebook page, so everyone now knows I have Alopecia, but also, I had never met anyone else with Alopecia “in the flesh”, so to speak, and to be able to share experiences and feelings with like-minded people is fantastic, and gave me a feeling of belonging in my new ‘family’.

People came from all over the UK to Liverpool for the flash mob, accompanied by family and friends, all showing support for their loved ones. We made a weekend of it, most of us arriving for rehearsals on Saturday afternoon. We were all feeling a little awkward and nervous at first, but once we started rehearsing, there was an unspoken unity that joined us all together, and we just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We let our hair down (sorry, that’s really funny?!) in the evening as the charity had organised an evening of fantastic food, great music and dancing, which provided a great opportunity to mingle and get to know each other.

On Sunday morning, my legs were a little stiff, and my unfit body was in shock from the sudden onslaught of exercise from the rehearsal, hehe. Another twenty or so new fellow flash mobbers arrived that morning to join in, & after a final run through the routine, we headed off to the venue in Liverpool town centre. We all tried to look natural and mingle in between the shoppers at the venue, ready to do our stuff at 2:30 prompt so that ITV Granada could record it as they were on a tight schedule.

What an amazing event!!

We danced to Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘Let’s Get Loud’, and the crowds of people clapped and cheered. It was elating.
At the end of our routine, we got serious to the song ‘True Colours’ by Cyndi Lauper, and those of us that were comfortable with it, revealed their Alopecia by taking off their headbands and wigs. It was very emotional, and there was many a tear, as it was the first time doing this for many. There were people of all ages, colours, and varying forms of Alopecia all taking a brave step together. I myself was not brave enough to reveal my Alopecia Universalis, and my journey is still ongoing, but I may feel ready in possible future events. I feel that I have taken a step forward though, just being part of an event like this, and wearing a t-shirt in a public place saying “I have Alopecia”, and walking around town as a group after the flash mob in our emblazoned t-shirts offering pamphlets on what Alopecia is, was wonderfully empowering.

Getting people to understand the condition can help reduce the stigma, and help us to come out of the dark with our ‘secret’. Having Alopecia can be such a sad and lonely place, and this event has helped in bringing it out into the open. The more publicity and information we can have about it, the better for those affected to release us not to feel like freaks, but like normal members of society.

I have met some truly inspirational and brave men, women and little children all struggling with the physical and emotional effects of Alopecia. It was an amazing experience, uplifting, a major confidence builder, and we made lots of new friends.

Do your bit for Alopecia Awareness Month

Here’s how:

• Help raise awareness by making the video go viral! ‘Liverpool Alopecia Flashmob’
• Read the article titled ‘Liverpool shoppers treated to “hair raising” display’
• Watch the video on ITV Granada entitled ‘Alopecia flashmob hits Liverpool‘
• Please also fill in the e-petition (This is for more research into Alopecia)

Or get involved – join Alopecia UK  – They have a network of support groups for those suffering with Alopecia in different cities across the country, and are at the moment bouncing around ideas for possible future events. Let’s hear yours!

P.S. Also, check out the group “Fixers”, a group of young people tackling current issues, who helped in getting this event off the ground.

(this article was written with permission from L.Siderfin a member of AUK)