NBA vet Charlie Villanueva, Dory Kranz CEO of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: The Brandon Robinson Brand
September is Alopecia Awareness Month. Last Friday, NBA veteran Charlie Villanueva guest hosted the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s Cheers for cHARity fundraiser at the Manhattan hotspot DOUX (formerly The Vanity NYC).
Villanueva has been a spokesperson and advocate for Alopecia awareness since he was drafted out of UCONN in 2005.
Alopecia is an autoimmune disease. As per webmd: alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles The damage to the follicle is usually not permanent. Experts do not know why the immune system attacks the follicles.
Charlie Villanueva. Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News
Alopecia areata is most common in people younger than 20, but children and adults of any age may be affected. Women and men are affected equally.
“I have always said my purpose in life has been to inspire people,” said Villanueva. “I hope my presence at such a prestigious event will continue to encourage people to always follow their dreams no matter the circumstances.”
Villanueva actually inspired me. Last year I woke up seeing clumps of my hair laying on my pillow.
After a series of tests at the doctor’s office, I was diagnosed with alopecia areata, No it’s not contagious! Being around the game of basketball for a long time all I could think of was Villanueva’s fight as a champion for alopecia.
I didn’t know how to handle it and I kept it to myself.
My perspective would change when I’d meet rising Chicago artist, Keya Trammell. She encouraged me to share my story.
After attending Charlie Villanueva’s event in Manhattan and meeting Dory Kranz CEO of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation I was encouraged by how well the foundation is doing and I shared my story via instagram:
I’m confident enough to share with you during Alopecia Awareness Month that not only do I have it, I’m fighting it! If you have it, you can fight it too!
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