Tri's for Alopecia

McKenna 'Troyan' Reitz is organizing this fundraiser to benefit National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Tax deductible

Everyone is fighting their own battle. EVERYONE has their own story.

My name is McKenna Reitz and I have Alopecia Universalis. Over two and half years ago I lost all my hair on my body due to this auto-immune disease that attacks healthy hair follicles. It affects as many as 6.8 million people in the United States. People of all ages, both sexes and all ethnic groups can develop alopecia. Currently, there is no cure for the disease.

I am not sick (thankfully), I have Alopecia.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster these past few years. It has been detrimental physically, mentally and emotionally. I have gone through many different injections, treatments, medications and therapies to try to have some hair regrowth and have been unsuccessful. I still have some bad days, but I am a firm believe that this happened for a reason. When I am not wearing a wig, I am wearing a baseball hat and most people believe that I am fighting cancer. That makes this disease even more difficult because I would rather those positive thoughts and prayers to go to those who are battling cancer.

I have found my purpose in life because of Alopecia and that is to make sure that everyone understands that we ALL have our own stories. Everyone has their own challenge/battle that they are fighting and regardless how big or small it is we must remain strong.

Being the mother of two very young daughters, I live everyday to show them that WE are strong physically and mentally and we won't let something like this define us rather WE DEFINE IT!

I am fundraising to raise awareness of Alopecia.

To prove to others that WE are strong and we won't allow Alopecia to define us, I will be competing in THREE sprint Triathlons this summer in Sylvania, OH that consists of:

400 yard swim

13 mile bike ride

3.1 mile run

Quarry Ridge, 6/27
Trilium, 7/22
Sylvania, 8/5

During my race, I will be wearing a shirt with all donor names on it!

With your support, we will:

*continue to advance research so there there are two treatments approved by the FDA for Alopecia Areata that are safe, affordable, effective and easy to use.

*increase our rease so that every person who needs support in connected with a mentor to receive one-on-one assistance and know they are not alone.

*All donations will go to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

For more information, please visit www.naaf.org.

Your support will help me to inspire many to NEVER allow anything to define YOU!