This September marks Alopecia UK’s 20th birthday, and I am proud to have been a part of this journey for the last 3 years as Research Manager.

In that time, I have got to know a wonderful community of people who support each other, lift each other up, and want to help make the world a better place, so others don’t need to have the same experiences they did. 

All the work AUK does is not possible without funding, and so I want to do my bit to try to raise some money so the charity can continue to support people for as long as it is needed. 

This September is also Alopecia Awareness Month, and the theme for this year is ‘Strength in Numbers’. I will be one of many in our community taking on a challenge this month, and I have decided to do a 20 mile walk around the heart of Scotland’s capital, while wearing a kilt, on 14 September, for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk ‘Mighty Stride’.

If I raise at least £250, I will also shave my head, which is perhaps a bit of a contradictory thing to do when you are raising funds for a hair loss charity, but hopefully it can help raise more awareness! I am lucky enough that it will grow back (except for a bit on the top), for thousands of people that’s not the case, and if I can do a bit more to help support those people, then it’s worth doing!

Update: since I have now hit the target, the hair will be going. Let's see if we can make it to £500!

Niels Bootsma