For five years, Chassin, who lives in New York, has been a support-group leader for alopecia areata, dealing with women, men and children of all ages. Getting people to attend isn't easy, so she has tried different situations. She found the most successful ones were those that were purely social, where people with the condition could mix and mingle. That was the birth of Bald Girls Do Lunch, a nonprofit support and education organization — a meet-and-greet she's taken to different cities nationwide. "It's been a huge hit."

This Sunday, she's hosting a Bald Girls Do Lunch gathering at noon at a downtown Salt Lake restaurant. She has found, she says, a situation where women feel comfortable. And it's a natural way to bring together women who might otherwise never meet each other. That's something Izatt is looking forward to. She doesn't really know any women with the condition, she says.

Despite the name, not all the women who come to the lunches are bald, like Chassin. And some who are choose to wear wigs or scarves. That's great, she says. The point is to get women with alopecia areata together to talk and laugh and realize they're anything but alone with the condition.

"Once you meet another person and just have that sense that someone understands what you're going through, it makes a huge difference."

This is a first Utah lunch, but she says it won't be the last. And there's still time for women who are interested to contact her and join the fun, although she needs a head count. Cost is $30, part of which supports the group's image and beauty workshops.

"One of the missions of Bald Girls Do Lunch is to mainstream the idea," she says. "There are people with long hair, short hair, no hair. People with freckles, tall people, short people. I am determined to do my part to mainstream acceptance."

She sees women become hermits over hair loss and it breaks her heart. "They're shortchanging their lives," she says.

The gatherings boost self-confidence, she notes. They expand the circle of friends, and who couldn't use another friend?

To find out about the group or RSVP for the lunch, e-mail Chassin at

info@baldgirlsdolunch.org.

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E-mail: lois@desnews.com