Brave Holly beats bullies
PRAISE FOR PICKED-ON TEEN AFTER SHE IS SET UPON IN THE STREET
A TEENAGE alopecia sufferer turned the tables on two bullies who tore off her artificial hair.
Video of the attack on Holly Mills, 13, from Blantyre, went viral after she bravely fought off her tormentors.
Her mum Kristin said: “I want to raise awareness about Holly’s condition and the bullying she faces.”
A TEENAGE alopecia sufferer has been praised for hitting back at bullies who attacked her.
Holly Mills, 13, ended up in a violent struggle with one girl who tore off her artificial hair.
But she gave the tormentor a hiding, before setting about a second girl, who then had a go at her.
Video footage of the clash went viral and prompted plenty of praise for the battling teen from Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Holly’s mum Kristin thanked people for their support and said she hoped this week’s incident would highlight the plight of alopecia sufferers and the hell suffered by her daughter.
Although Holly saw off both girls, her hair was ripped to shreds in the fight, which took place in a local park. She has been too upset to go to school since. Kristin said: “I want to raise awareness about Holly’s condition and the bullying she faces rather than blame individuals for this. “I’m not looking to shame someone. That has been done publicly via the video. “I only hope the girls involved will move forward and think they can’t treat people like this. “Holly has
been emotionally traumatised and been exposed in the very way she never wanted.”
Holly has had alopecia since she was seven years old, when she was left with patches of hair. She lost it all aged nine.
Some cruel kids have used the condition to torment her or shun her ever since.
Her mum said: “It is a traumatising affliction which people pick on her for daily and she has dealt with that from a very young age.
“Since she has gone into secondary school the bullying has got worse but kids have always done things like saying they have to keep away from her because she has cancer or a disease.
“Other kids have not wanted to pair up with her in school.”
Holly does not have a mobile phone any more and no longer goes on Instagram or Snapchat in a bid to prevent her being bullied or tormented by reading messages that upset her.
Kristin said: “It is a deepseated thing and you always have it in the back of your mind, that people are judging her.
“Holly had already changed school due to bullying and although she is a strong girl, she doesn’t have much self-belief.”
She added: “A main aim of the kids has always been to take her hair off her and they finally managed to do it in this video, which was awful for Holly.
“I want this to highlight what these kids are capable of and how they pick on someone they see as vulnerable.”
Kristin revealed she too had alopecia in her teens.
She said: “Alopecia is a hereditary condition and I had it when I was 18. It is an autoimmune condition that can run in the family.
“When I had it, it was mostly on the back of my head and my other hair covered it so not many people knew I had it.
“My hair has since come back but I passed it to Holly.”
Since the video was shared anonymously by some schoolkids, Holly’s cousin Becca Smith put it online and the response from the public has been overwhelming.
Kristin said: “People have been telling Holly how beautiful she is but she thinks they are only saying that because they feel sorry for her.
“That is quite heartbreaking because she is gorgeous.”
Holly has tried heat treatment at hospital but nothing can currently be done to mask her baldness other than to wear a hat or artificial hair.
Kristin said: “Her hair was destroyed in the incident but people have set up a GoFundMe page to get Holly some new hair.
“We had a lovely offer from a company called Wow who have offered to provide her with new hair and a pamper session.”
Holly’s cousin Becca added: “I think it is amazing that people are supporting Team Holly. It’s important that this gets seen.”
It is believed police were alerted about the video but no further action was taken. ●TO help Holly get some new hair, go to www.gofundme.com/ help-get-holly-a-new-wig