Alopecia awareness advocate and social media influencer Marcy Gallant has taken on the role of mentor to a pair of young girls who are battling the hair loss condition. “When I first got Alopecia I was four years old,” said Maeve Sooley. “She (Gallant) supports me and she’s my best friend.” By the time she was 10 years old, Gallant had lost nearly all her hair. By the time she graduated high school she had no hair left on her body due to Alopecia Universalis, a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles. Years later, the 25-year-old has an acquired confidence. She takes to social media to share her journey and help guide people of all ages who have a similar experience. “This is healing my inner child,” said Gallant who leads youth engagement and special projects for the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation (CANAAF). “It’s also just making sure that no one feels alone in this journey. When I connected with Maeve, it was like I saw myself in her. I wanted to protect her at all costs but also empower her through whatever she decided to do with her Alopecia. Whether that was treatment or rocking the bald or wearing wigs.” On Sunday, Sept. 27, nearing the end of Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, the first annual London Alopecia walk took place at St. Julien Park. Of the cities hosting events by the CANAAF, London’s edition of Strides of Support raised the most money. “September is just a continuous reminder every year that we are more than just our hair and Alopecia doesn’t define our worth,” said Gallant. The Alopecia community in London is growing. Six people with the condition including CTV News London reporter Brent Lale attended the walk. Gallant was thrilled to bring two of her young mentees together for the first time. She’s inspiring people to believe they should never feel ashamed about going bald. “Sometimes people give me weird looks,” said Maddie Majaury, 10, who has Alopecia. “What’s fun is that when little kids stare at me, I stare them down, and then they start laughing.” Sooley is finding a silver lining in losing her hair. “I feel like it’s better because, like, every time when you take a shower, it’s easier.” The walk was a day of fostering relationships and personal connections. One woman felt it was a safe space to remove her wig in public for the first time and Gallant was thrilled to connect the two young girls. “I just think it’s so important to have friends who are similar ages, who can kind of support each other as they continue to navigate hair loss throughout their lives,” she said. “I just didn’t have that when I was a kid. It’s so impactful just to have a friend who looks like you.”.
