Lou Dobbs helps a community unite behind a girl and her cause

NEWTON - Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss for over 5 million Americans. There are men, women and children afflicted with this ailment throughout Sussex County. One special girl and her family and friends made Alopecia Awareness month count by hosting a fundraising event in Sparta. “Over $14,000 was raised; the community support is overwhelming,” said Glennis Randazzo, whose daughter Julie has Alopecia Areata. “Awareness is the key that unlocked the door to Julie’s isolation.” The Mohawk House generously donated their restaurant to host the affair for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). The event was organized in just three weeks by Randazzo with Steve and Rachel Scro, owners of the restaurant, to help her. The Randazzos sold over 275 tickets in advance and many more at the door. Guests also had the option of putting an additional donation in a large water jug at the front of the restaurant. Julie and her sisters, Natalie and Amy, were at the front desk, helping people check in and handing out purple bands which said, “NAAF, Free to Be Me,” to all the guests. Julie was both excited and nervous as she looked forward to “learning a lot and meeting new people with Alopecia, too.” Among those there to support the cause were the principal and teachers from Sparta Middle School. The principal at SMS, Linda Nick, said Julie herself came to see her last year and explain that she had the disease. “She’s just a great kid, very mature and has been doing well. I’m very proud of her,” Nick said. This was a common sentiment throughout the evening, teachers, parents and peers alike, all expressed how they admired Julie’s strength and were proud of her. Other families who have children with Alopecia heard about the event and were in attendance also. Christine and Al Maierle are from Oak Ridge, and attended with their two children, Brad and Briana. Briana is 8 years old and was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata four years ago. Christine Maierle heard about the fundraiser through a friend who saw a flyer at a local salon. Maierle regrets having not been able to do a fundraiser herself, but has already spoken with Randazzo and will be helping her with next years event. Lou Dobbs began the evening’s speeches. Dobbs’ children have been patients of Julie’s father, a doctor, for years, and he explained that when Glennis called to ask for his help with the event, he gladly said yes, but admitted he had no idea what Alopecia Areata was. Dobbs told how he “has worked with Art Harris, an investigative reporter, for ten years who has Alopecia Areata — I just always thought he was Charles Barkley cool.” He praised the Randazzos for organizing the fundraiser, and then praised those in attendance. “In my job, I get to talk about what’s wrong with this country, but you all here tonight show me what’s right with this country.” Angela Christiano, another guest speaker, began work as a scientist at Columbia University 10 years ago. Six months into the new job, she said, “I didn’t really know what I was doing, and then I started to find patches of baldness on my head.” Diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, Christiano had found her calling. “Being a scientist, it’s very frustrating to have this and not know why it happens or how to fix it.” Still, she was happy to attend and talk about the disease, saying “It’s very nice for the Randazzo family to host this.” NAAF representatives Maureen McGettigan and Vicki Kalabokes both spoke of the foundation’s role in research and support for patients and their families. Kalabokes started as a volunteer on behalf of a friend of hers who suffers from Alopecia, and twenty years later is now the CEO. Her message to guests that night was of NAAF’s mission: “To support research, support people and raise awareness.” She also explained how NAAF has recently received funding to create a patient registry in hopes of collecting data that will further research. McGettigan suffers from the disease as well, and began in the NAAF by attending and then leading a support group in the Philadelphia area. Now, a member of the board of directors, she uses her experiences to spread awareness of what a person goes through once diagnosed. “I was in denial for a long time, but I am blessed with great friends and family, and with their support, got through it.” McGettigan has lost her hair 4 times, and had it grow back 3 times over the span of ten years. She wears a wig, but proudly removed it for photos and while she spoke. “To know you’re not the only one is comforting,” she said. To learn more about the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, how you can help, or to join the registry, see its Web site at www.naaf.org. The Mohawk House has done numerous fundraisers for local causes. If you are a resident of Sussex County and have a local cause you wish to help out, contact Steve and Rachel Scro at 973-729-6464.