This charity is very close to Dylan’s heart as he himself developed Alopecia in the summer of 2022.

The word ‘Alopecia’ means hair loss. There are many types of alopecia, ranging from thinning hair to complete hair loss. It can affect just the scalp or the entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent.

Dylan has ‘Alopecia Areata’, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the structures from which the hairs grow. 

Dylan said:

“I wanted to raise awareness about Alopecia and turn my negative into a positive.”

In total, Dylan raised £385 for Alopecia UK by taking part in sponsored sporting activities such as bike riding, playing football, football golf and walking. His fundraising was also supported by his Mum Nikki who completed a 10km walk/run every day for a whole month.

Mum Nikki said:

“Dylan makes me so proud. No 11-year-old child should have to deal with this condition. Seeing how distressed Dylan was when his hair started falling out last summer was really upsetting. As his hair loss got worse, Dylan eventually decided to take the plunge and shave off the remaining small patch of hair he had left. He is so brave.

“Dylan really inspires me. He gets up every day with a smile on his face, doesn’t moan and just makes the most of each day! I couldn’t be prouder!”

Dylan’s Form Tutor, Ms Blatch, said:

“Dylan is an incredibly popular member of our tutor group and has a close group of friends who he chats with every morning. And yet, he was very reticent in sharing his amazing fundraising achievements as he is certainly not boastful. When I received the email from his Mum I was so surprised at how much he had raised and so proud of him. He is truly a wonderful person to have in our tutor group and a fantastic role model to all pupils at Risedale.”

On Instagram, Alopecia UK said:

“We are so grateful! Well done Dylan! And thank you to everyone who supported him 💙.”

If you would like to find out more about Alopecia UK and support this fantastic charity please visit Alopecia UK