Help brave Bonnie get her confidence back after hair loss
DEVELOPED ALOPECIA AFTER BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL
A BRAVE young girl is hoping to get her confidence back after she lost all her hair after being bullied at school.
Bonnie Pullan was just seven when her mum Wendy noticed a small bald patch had appeared on her head during a half-term holiday. Eventually, all her hair fell out, although it did start growing back when Bonnie was at home with her mum during lockdown.
But the stress of returning to school led to all of her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows falling out and Bonnie was diagnosed with alopecia universalis, a condition characterised by complete hair loss which is unlikely to grow back.
Mum Wendy said the stress caused by bullying and ‘nasty comments’ had caused the hair loss and, sadly, the bullying continued after she had lost her hair. The mum went into the school to speak with staff and the bullying has now stopped.
Wendy, from Skircoat Green in Halifax, says Bonnie is facing a daily struggle with her confidence and self-image.
“As a family, we engage with alopecia charities and remind Bonnie every day that real beauty is on the inside, but the reality is we know the importance of hair to young girls.
“As secondary school looms she says things to me like ‘Mum, I don’t like myself’ or ‘Mum, all of my friends are pretty and I’m not.’ It is heartbreaking to see the toll it has on her mental health.”
Wendy describes Bonnie as a ‘typical girl’ who enjoys playing out and watching videos. She also raises money for Alopecia UK and has won an award from the charity for her fundraising work which included a sponsored walk.
“Bonnie has always been so strong, winning awards at school. She won an award for Alopecia UK for her fundraising and spreading awareness. She’s the strongest girl I know.”
Bonnie and her family are now asking for donations to change her life and give her back the confidence.
The Yorkshire Hair Clinic in Huddersfield is trying raise £5,000 for hair replacement for Bonnie.
On May 28 clinic founders, Hayley Jennings and Jessica Patrick, will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money to buy a CNC hair replacement system.
Once Bonnie has hers, she will wear it 24/7 for up to four weeks at a time before visiting Yorkshire Hair Clinic for complimentary maintenance appointments.
Jessica Patrick, of the Yorkshire Hair Clinic, said: “At Yorkshire Hair Clinic we see the difference a CNC hair replacement system makes to those struggling with hair loss.”
Donations can be made to: www.gofundme.com/f/little-hairloss-miracles