A Scottish schoolgirl who started to lose her hair before starting school has taken it in her stride after getting a wig from a charity.
Freya Stevens, eight, from Penicuik, Midlothian was diagnosed with a hair loss condition three years ago that her mum originally thought was a scalp infection.
The youngster's mum Nikki Stephens began to notice wisps of her little girl's hair falling out and bald patches three years ago - but had no idea what was causing it.
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The schoolgirl went through all sorts of tests to find out what was causing the hair loss including having skin from her scalp sent to labs to test for an infection and several blood tests.
Eventually Freya was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition Alopecia Areata, the disorder is the most common type of hair loss and can affect those at any age.
It usually causes small, coin-sized, round patches of baldness on the scalp, although hair elsewhere can be affected too.
After getting a wig through the Little Princess Trust, Freya's dad Gav, 40, is taking on an 140-mile cycle with pals to give back to the charity in June this year.
His wife said the dad of two is panicking slightly now ahead of the big cycle but will do anything for his little girl.
In just 24 hours the page has raised £1450 enough to provide wigs for three children with similar conditions and there is still eight weeks to go.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Vikki said: "In October it will four years since it first happened.
"I noticed thinning areas on her head and patches that would last for months then it would start to grow back in January.
"By summer it would have fully grown back and was absolutely great. At the first I thought it might be a scalp infection so we had a sample sent away and checked.
"She had her bloods check too but they were clear and eventually she was diagnosed with alopecia.
"They don't know if it will keep falling out then come back again. It's an autoimmune condition so there is no cure or anything you can do.
"As a parent that's the worst part you just have to leave it there is nothing I can do to make it better."
Nikki used special tricks to conceal Freya's condition but after losing most of her hair last year it was no longer a possibility.
She explained: "I used to use a root touch up spray and I'd style it in a way that no one would notice.
"But after this Winter it became too hard to hide and she lost most of her hair."
"In November we contacted the Little Princess Trust to discuss potentially getting a wig to help Freya.
"Straight away this charity could not have been more helpful. From start to finish, she had her natural real hair wig within 6 weeks.
Dealing with the condition through her first couple of years of primary school Freya has become aware of her condition and resilient when adapting to the changes out of her control.
The brave youngster even stood up to give a talk about the rare condition in front of her peers just weeks after starting a new school.
Nikki continued: "She is quite aware of it and has adapted well.
"Freya changed school recently because we moved to a different area of Penicuik.
"She had done a talk at her old school in front of her class about the condition which was really brave.
"But just six weeks after moving to her new school she stood in front of her new peers and did a talk about it.
"She has taken it completely in her stride.
"On her own she will still get upset at times, but we speak openly about it as a family and she knows its purely cosmetic - she is okay and doesn't have to spend time in hospital."
The whole family is so proud of little Freya.
Her mum gushed: "She's so confident and active, she loves going to dance classes and doing gymnastics."
"We don’t know what the future will hold for Freya’s alopecia journey, as it’s something with very little research."
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On the fundraising page the mum-of-two wrote: "For 3 years now I’ve read article after article on all aspects of alopecia, I’ve bought products to try and help, and we see a specialist.
"Whatever the outcome may be for Freya though, we know that keeping her spirits up and keeping that amazing confidence she has alive, will only make her a stronger person.
"Any donations towards Gav’s cycle would be hugely appreciated. It costs roughly £500 per wig for the little princess trust to make.
"They also rely on people donating hair, and with Covid, hair donations have been down in the last couple of years."
Each wig made by the Little Princess Trust costs £500, so far the Stephens have raised enough for three children to get a life changing wig.
You can donate to the fundraising page here.
