The Da Vinci Code movie

Wow! interest in this movie has trebled the visitors to this web site of late..... which, in a way is a good thing because now people will learn about a real albino and the facts about albinism and not the rubbish interpretation Hollywood portrays them as.

for more comments, click "albino's in films"

in the August (05) issue of the Teen Magazine called "SUGAR". Bee was a part of an article and photo shoot, entitled "WE ARE  BEAUTIFUL" out now (UK) with a section on albinism on page 76.  A special thanks to the help of Sugar magazine editorial staff, putting Albinism out there to the people in a positive way.......

A new drug that will increase the pigmentation in the skin

 

Keep your fingers crossed everybody', it appears an Australian company ?Clinuvel? are currently testing a product that will go a long way to alleviate problems for the fair skinned and in the future may be able to help people with albinism that have some traces of melanin in their body.  I have been speaking with Dennis Wright from the company directly.... so no false gossip here.....

 

In short, currently administered as an injection or implant form. Melanin is responsible for skin pigmentation and screens out some of the ultraviolet (UV) rays which cause skin cancer. Under normal exposure to UV rays the body takes several days to form a protective barrier of melanin during which time the skin is vulnerable to sunburn, a known prime cause of skin cancer. Melanotan is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone alpha - melanocyte stimulating hormone which induces the body to produce the protective melanin before exposure to UV radiation.

 

Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer with over 130,000 malignant melanomas occurring throughout the world each year. Markedly higher levels of UV light resulting from a depleted ozone layer mean that incidence is likely to climb.

Clinical trials of Melanotan have already demonstrated that it can increase melanin content in the skin by up to 100 per cent and reduce sunburn injury by up to 50 per cent in fair skinned volunteers. This represents a significant breakthrough for people most at risk from sunburn injury and potentially skin cancer and may be of use and benefit to people with Vitiligo, albinism, etc.

 

Currently under trial in the UK, is the alternative method of spraying it directly onto the skin to make it easier to apply. If successful, the component will be absorbed through the skin and then into the bloodstream. While speaking with Dennis it was discussed about its use with albinism, though they have no plans at the moment to do any trials with people with albinism but there is no reason why it could not be considered in the near future.

 

I am currently in touch with the respective companies and will keep you up to date with any news and rest assured it will not be media gossip but direct from the horses mouth ?so to speak? because I know none of us will want our hopes raised needlessly????  now, just need to shoot off and try and stop Bianca doing those cartwheels...........

A Documentary on Albinism

Swedish TV

Kanel 5

called the

Bianca has appeared in a very popular documentary series called the Outsiders, produced by Titan TV for Swedish Television

(13th March  2006). The coverage was very good and portrayed albinism in a correct way that will help people understand and dispel all the myths that have built up over the years.

A special thanks must go out to the Swedish people who responded in their droves, both by email and through our forum, with warmth and understanding and what amazed us was the effort they made in writing in English, some writing as the documentary was airing..... To be honest it has taken nearly 3 weeks to catch up with the backlog.

The one good thing is that we where able to get to so many people in one go and in the right way.... the message really got across

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY May 14th, 2006 Bianca has done an article in the Independent National Newspaper (UK) about albinism called "What it feels like to be an albino" you can find it in the Sunday Review Magazine

BIANCA, THERAPIST Bee has got an ITEC Diploma as a Holistic Therapist covering Indian Head massage, full holistic body massage and she is currently taking her Aromatherapy course to complete the triage........ She now has a therapy room at Amethyst, 15 Triangle, Bournemouth, Dorset UK For those interested, please use the contact page for more details.

Bianca has played a part of a nurse with albinism in Channel 4's Drama series "Teachers" in its 4th series.... This was a comedy but her role was in good taste.  It was a great day of shooting and was treated like a celebrity with hotel and chauffeur...

Ummmm! she is just getting back to normal.

click here, for behind the scenes pictures.

Bianca was privileged to be featured in an article written by Rose George on Albinism called

'Beyond The Pale'

Sunday Telegraph magazine (UK National Newspaper) 5th October, 2003 & The Age (Australian Newspaper) 6th January 2004 and various other publication since.  Rose did a great piece highlighting the good and bad points of having albinism and really put albinism on the map as far as the populous is concerned....

Click here to read the article

 

BEYOND THE PALE   Bournemouth University, produced and directed by a student Fiona, have filmed a documentary on Bianca and how she copes with everyday life as an albino.  Bournemouth University is classed as one of the top Universities for Media, in the country (UK).  We hope to arrange a link in the future to an edited version that can be downloaded as a zip file........

ALBINISM COMMUNITY

A chance for people to air their views, debate and to help others with there experiences.... Hope you will contribute and enjoy it.

LARGE TEXT available:.. Click forum