3rd Annual "Mutts Making Money for Melaina"

Sunday, September 23rd from 11 to 2 - Benefiting the Children's Alopecia Project

Family Fun Day/Doggy Day including Huge Basket Raffle 

NEW LOCATION - Anderson Farm Park, 499 Hopwood Road, Collegeville

A Little Bit About Me . . . . .

Hi!!  My name is Melaina.  I am 6 years old.  I am a perfectly healthy vibrant little girl.  In January 2009 my mommy found a bald spot on the back of my head.  She took me to my pediatrician and the doctor looked into his medical textbook to find out what the problem could be.  After sending me for lots of bloodwork we ruled out any sickness thankfully.  What we did find out is that I have something called "Alopecia."  Within 3 months I lost all of my hair, my eyebrows and eyelashes.  By my 3rd birthday I was completely bald, but still as healthy as could be!!  In August my hair started to grow back and my family and I were so excited!!  In October, I got a cold, which turned into bronchitis and the hair I had regrown fell completely out.  Since October 2009 I have lost all of my hair again.  I know that I am beautiful because my mommy, daddy and 7 year old sister tell me every day!!  What is hard is when adults and children stare at me....it makes me feel very sad like there is something wrong with me.  My mommy has taught me that people are staring at me because they are interested in me but it is still hard.  When adults and children ask why I don't have any hair, my mommy always says that it's like I'm allergic to my hair.  A lot of people think that I have cancer and am going thru treatment but luckily that is not the case at all!!  Please support my fundraiser "Mutts Making Money for Melaina" so we can hopefully find a cure for this unexplained condition.

Please join us on September 23rd, 2012 to raise money for the Children's Alopecia Project (CAP) www.childrensalopeciaproject.org

CAP, headquartered in Wyomissing, PA is devoted specifically to children living with the incurable autoimmune hair loss disease, Alopecia. The Mission of the Children's Alopecia Project (CAP) is to help any child in need who is living with hair loss due to all forms of alopecia. We build self-esteem, provide support and raise awareness. We would like our CAP Kids to grow in confidence and become stronger teens and productive adults, maybe even the advocates of the future dealing with alopecia.

What is Alopecia?  Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).

Alopecia areata affects approximately two percent of the population overall, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. This common skin disease is highly unpredictable and cyclical. Hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, and the disease course is different for each person.