“She’s as strong as they come:” Abel Continues Advocacy for Alopecia

Loyola women’s soccer captain and defender Alaina Abel made her alopecia diagnosis public and shaved her head in March 2023. Since then, she’s been an advocate for those affected by the autoimmune disease and continues to support attempts to get legislation passed for those who face similar challenges with the disease. 

The second Alopecia Awareness Match was held by Loyola Athletics and women’s soccer Sunday, Sept. 1, where the Ramblers defeated Bowling Green State University 1-0. In attendance at Hoyne Field were members of Abel’s family and children with alopecia. 

Since Loyola’s inaugural Alopecia Awareness match, Abel said the support she feels from Athletics and the surrounding community has only continued to grow. 

“This year it was even more special that we were able to continue the conversation and spread awareness,” Abel said. “Everything in life takes a village, and I think Loyola has been that village for me.”

Abel added support came not only from the Athletic Department, but also her university professors who comment on the strength they see in her. 

After the match concluded, Abel took time to greet all of her guests, taking pictures and making sure they all felt welcomed and a part of the celebration. 

Abel said the impact of having them in attendance and being a role model means a lot to her.

“It’s really cool for me to be that person for them,” Abel said. “I look in the sports world and I don’t see a lot of people who look like me on the field, especially in the soccer world, so to be able to show them we’re represented in the realm of sports is really cool.” 

Since sharing her story, Abel has received an outpouring of support from younger kids who face similar challenges as her. 

“I’ve definitely received a lot of warm messages, and just people reaching out either in similar situations or knowing people in similar situations,” Abel said. “Talking about it more and opening up about it, there’s just been more conversations being had.”

Last year, Abel said the obstacle she faced the most was dealing with the excess amount of sweat due to not having hair to absorb it. Over the past year, Abel said she lost her eyebrows and eyelashes due to the disease, which added another level of difficulty to games. 

“It’s more difficult with sunscreen because then it gets into your eyes super easily and burns,” Abel said, laughing. “But our athletic trainer is so good with having a towel ready for me.” 

Athletic trainers, teammates and other members of the staff have provided immense support for Abel, according to her and head coach Angela Staveskie. 

Staveskie said she was proud of Abel and how she’s been able to overcome immense adversity throughout her college years, while also being a vocal advocate for younger children with alopecia. 

She said she hopes Abel knows she constantly has full support from the team and will continue to be with her through every step of the way during her journey. 

“She’s as strong as they come and inspiring to anyone of any age, myself included,” Staveskie said.

As Abel starts her final year of college, she has stepped away from raising money for organizations like Wigs4Kids and started working to pass legislation to help kids with alopecia and insurance related expenses. 

There hasn’t been much progress on the legislative end, according to Abel. While there are bills being written and put up for approval, she said they haven’t gone through the right people to get them through.

After she graduates in the spring, Abel said she plans on dedicating more of her time to the National Alopecia Foundation, including participating in their Walk for Alopecia which she said will take place in Washington, D.C. in September.

Abel reflected on her time at Loyola and how the university and surrounding community has continued to support her and her advocacy for alopecia.

“I am so grateful for the Loyola community,” Abel said. “And how they always show up for me and make things like this happen.”