For the past several years, CANAAF’s Come Together Conference has been supported by the generosity of Nineteen Marketing, a promotional products and custom apparel company based in Barrie, Ontario. Behind that support is a personal story that is close to the heart of owner, Schenley Jansma.
Schenley’s daughter, McKenna, has lived with alopecia areata for nearly her entire life. While signs of hair loss became noticeable around her first birthday, the condition progressed quickly, resulting in approximately 50% hair loss by the age of two. Fortunately, McKenna responded well to topical steroid treatments and her hair has completely regrown. Although she still experiences patches of hair loss from time to time, her hair continues to regrow with treatment, and she has learned to face the unpredictability of alopecia areata with remarkable confidence.
Now nine years old, McKenna is thriving. She is a straight-A student, a talented competitive dancer, and an inspiring advocate for herself and others. Even in the world of competitive dance, where appearance and hairstyles play a significant role, McKenna approaches her alopecia areata with positivity and resilience.
“My hair changes sometimes, but it doesn’t change who I am,” says McKenna. “If people have questions, I like helping them understand what alopecia areata is.”
When periods of hair loss occur, McKenna openly shares her alopecia areata experiences with her dance teachers and teammates. At school, she proudly shares her story and often uses alopecia areata as her “interesting fact” when introducing herself. Her courage and willingness to educate others even earned her a school award for bravery.
Inspired by her daughter’s journey, Schenley wanted to find a way to give back to the alopecia areata community. After discovering CANAAF online, she reached out looking for information, support, and opportunities to become involved.
“Watching McKenna face alopecia areata with such confidence has inspired our whole family,” says Schenley. “Partnering with CANAAF allows us to turn our personal journey into something positive by helping create resources, connections, and hope for other families.”
Since 2023, Nineteen Marketing has proudly supported CANAAF’s Come Together Conference and in 2025, Strides of Support for Alopecia Areata, by providing custom-branded merchandise for the event. The company offers promotional products, custom apparel, embroidery, screen printing, DTF printing, laser engraving, and more, serving organizations across North America.
Nineteen Marketing works with businesses of all sizes, with a special passion for supporting charities, community organizations, and causes that make a difference. For Schenley, supporting CANAAF is more than a sponsorship—it’s a reflection of a family’s journey and a daughter’s inspiring example of courage, confidence, and resilience.
