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Quota International of Taree

Alopecia Areata is a disease that most people have never heard of. Imagine suddenly losing all of the hair on your body—that's exactly what happened to seven-year-old Charlotte Oliver Adamson. No more combs, barrettes, or hair ribbons needed, just the realization that pretending to be a princess might be a little difficult without the long golden locks.

Not for Charlotte. Her parents set up the Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation, which provides education about alopecia and seeks monetary and hair donations that can be used to provide wigs for people like Charlotte who suffer from this rare autoimmune disease. Although not debilitating, alopecia can have a profound psychological impact on both children and adults. The low self-esteem that results from being bullied, teased, stared at, and misunderstood for having cancer can be devastating. The wigs help to soften, if not eliminate, the blow.

Taree Quotarians were so taken by Charlotte's story that they just had to help the foundation. They visited 21 local hair salons to educate hair dressers about alopecia and asked them to encourage their clientele to provide hair donations. They also enlisted local newspapers to run articles educating readers about the foundation and how to donate their hair at the hair salons. And for a grand finale, the Taree Quota club hosted an elegant Princess Charlotte Alopecia Garden Party on March 14, 2009, as their Quota Cares Month project.

Magnificent floral arrangements, a beautifully decorated tearoom that served lunch, and an activities tent for children were just a few of the garden party's many attractions. A castle fit for a princess welcomed the 300 guests as they entered the garden while music played in the background. There were games, raffles, and other events to keep visitors entertained, including hair styling presentations and haircuts at a reduced charge courtesy of three local hairdressers.

All in all, proceeds from the garden party amounted to $3,700 for The Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation. The event was so successful that Taree Quotarians are considering making it an annual occurrence. Not only did the club support a very worthy cause, it also gained a new member and increased community awareness of its mission through heavy newspaper and radio coverage.

To read or print the club's winning application, click here*.

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