Lisa & Jiggy Coming to 2013 Conference - National Alopecia Areata ...

NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Gary Sherwood
For Immediate Release (415) 472-3780
News Release #5
gary@naaf.org
Pictures, Biographies & Backgrounders Available Upon Request
Kids with Autoimmune Disease Welcome Lisa Vanderpump & Giggy
SAN RAFAEL, CA – May 21, 2013 – The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) is excited to
announce a treat for kids with this most common autoimmune disease. Lisa Vanderpump, star of The
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules and Dancing with the Stars, along with her popular
Pomeranian Giggy, will be offering a very special meet and greet at the Kids Camp at 28th Annual
National Alopecia Areata Foundation International Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, June 27-30, at the
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. Giggy has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease which causes
total or partial hair loss. The hundreds of children with alopecia areata from all over the world will be
developing a unique friendship with Giggy, sharing their experience in having this autoimmune disease.
The last time the children with alopecia areata visted St. Louis in 2002, they were able to meet and
interact with Cinder the Chimpanzee, at the St. Louis Zoo. Cinder also had alopecia areata.
This year, nearly 250 children with alopecia areata are heading to St. Louis to take part in a Children’s
Conference Camp (CCC) held concurrently with the main conference. Like many children who are
different, children without hair are often subject to teasing and harassment from peers who have little
understanding of their condition, which can result in poor self-esteem and debilitating insecurities. “I
want to show that having alopecia areata shouldn’t hold you back,” says Lisa. “Giggy has it and he’s the
most famous dog in the world.”
Lisa expressed an interest in attending the Annual Conference last fall when she and Giggy graciously
participated in a meet and greet event with our Los Angeles area support groups, and the alopecia areata
community is grateful for her continued support.
Hailing from London, restaurateur, designer, author, philanthropist, producer and television personality,
Lisa Vanderpump moved to the US 8 years ago. Lisa is best known for The Real Housewives of Beverly
Hills, the cast of which she joined in 2010. Most recently, Lisa was on the cast of the 2013 season of
Dancing with the Stars.
Lisa is committed to helping others through her work with various charities and organizations. Alongside
her Pomeranian Giggy who suffers from alopecia areata, Lisa works with NAAF helping children with
this autoimmune disease.

Alopecia (AL-OH-PEE-SHA) areata (AIR-EE-AH-TAH) is the most common autoimmune disease that
may result in total or partial loss of scalp and body hair. Affecting over 6.5 million Americans, and 145
million people worldwide, alopecia areata currently has no cure, and no treatment that is approved by the
Food and Drug Administration. It occurs in both sexes and all races and ages, but young people are
affected most often. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round patches on the scalp. In
some people, the disease can affect hair on the scalp until all of it is lost (alopecia totalis), or over the
entire body, including the eyebrows and eyelashes (alopecia universalis).
NAAF, headquartered in San Rafael, CA, funds for research to find a cure or acceptable treatment for
alopecia areata, supports those with the disease, and educates the public about alopecia areata. NAAF is
governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a prestigious Scientific Advisory Council. Founded
in 1981, NAAF is widely regarded as the largest, most influential, and most representative foundation
associated with alopecia areata.
To learn more about alopecia areata, please contact the National Alopecia Areata Foundation office at
415-472-3780 in San Rafael, CA or visit the NAAF website at www.naaf.org.
For more information on NAAF’s International Conference in St. Louis, please log onto
www.naaf.org/2013conference.