A YOUNG alopecia sufferer invited an award-winning author with the condition to her school in Bournemouth to help raise awareness.

Molly Milligan, a Year 6 pupil at King’s Park Academy, started losing her hair three years ago and has been left with large bald patches on the back of her head.

Last month, the charity Little Princess Trust paid for her to receive a £700 custom wig made of real human hair. To show her appreciation, the youngster organised Molly’s Hair-Raising Event to raise money to fund a wig for another child.

She also wrote to children’s author Sue Hampton to ask for her help in raising awareness of alopecia, a condition which covers all types of hair loss from temporary loss to sudden and complete baldness.

Sue, who is an ambassador for Alopecia UK, said: “When Molly sent me a letter inviting me to her 'Hair-Raising Event' at school, I knew she was a child with a big personality.

“Now I have met her, I know she is also very brave, and I have been inspired by the way she has been so open about her condition amongst her friends and how they are supporting her and helping her to raise money."

During her visit, Sue, who has written 21 novels for children and teenagers, ran creative writing workshops for the whole of Year 6.

Some of the pupils then read passages from the stories they had written during a special assembly.

“I lost my own hair to alopecia at the age of 24,” Sue continued, “but hid my condition for many years.

“Molly, however, is using what she is going through to educate others and that is wonderful.”

Since launching her fundraising efforts, Molly has been inundated with gifts which her family have helped her to auction off, raising over £470.

Molly said: “I was really happy when Sue said she would come to my school. She has been reading her books to us and has also talked to me about having alopecia.

“Everyone has known about my alopecia and they have been really kind. “They have all said my new wig is pretty, too, and they are going to help me raise money to pay for a wig for someone else,” she added.

Dawn Wilks, associate principal of King’s Park Academy, said she was proud of Molly and her fellow pupils who have supported her.

"We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Sue Hampton, whose creative writing classes have been a great success and have really inspired our year six pupils to think about what makes people 'different' and to carry on writing their own exciting stories,” she said.