How It Started: Clara’s Journey
Hi, I’m Clara, and I’m one of the co-founders of the Upstream Health Foundation. I’m only 15, but my journey started when I was 12—and it’s a journey that shaped everything about who I am today.
At 12 years old, my life changed completely. Over the course of a single week, I lost all my hair due to an autoimmune disease. It was devastating. At first, I was overwhelmed—by the suddenness of it, by the fear of what was happening to me, and by the uncertainty of what came next.
What followed was a struggle for answers. My parents did everything they could to help me, but it was hard to find reliable information or know which treatments were the best options. I started weekly self-injections, which often made me sick the next day, but we didn’t know if we were doing everything we could. I could tell they were asking themselves: Are we making the right choices for her? Have we tried everything?
Meanwhile, I was trying to adjust to my new reality, but it wasn’t easy. I wore a wig to school, but it became a source of constant stress. I worried about people noticing. At track practice, kids tried to pull off my hat while I ran. I was so upset I stopped running entirely.
I looked for others like me online, hoping to find someone who understood what I was going through. But I was too afraid to show my face, scared of what people might say or the comments I might receive. I felt alone in a way I never had before.
One day, I said to my dad,
“Dad, I’ll do this when my hair grows back.”
I’ll never forget how he looked at me and gently said,
“Clara, it might never grow back.”
For a long time, I carried those words with me. But then something shifted.
The Manhattan Walk
I call it The Manhattan Walk.
It was a decision that changed everything. I was in New York City with my dad, walking through Manhattan and remembering something Tamia, a close friend of my parents, had once told me about her own experience. Her story stuck with me—the courage she had found, the way she chose to embrace who she was. Inspired by her, I decided to take a step of my own.
I stood at the edge of Central Park, took off my wig, and walked down Fifth Avenue, all the way downtown, with my bare head for everyone to see. I was terrified. My heart raced with every step. But I was also done hiding.
That walk wasn’t just about walking—it was about reclaiming myself. For so long, I had worried about what others might think or how they might react. But with every block, I started to let go of those fears. I wanted to own who I was—not the version I thought the world wanted to see, but the person I truly am.
The Manhattan Walk became my turning point. It was the moment I stopped letting my condition define me and started embracing the strength that had always been there.
Two years later, my hair began to grow back. It came back different—new colors, new texture—but by then, those details didn’t matter as much. What I had learned over those two years mattered more: that life goes on, that real strength comes from within, and that the hardest challenges often teach you the most about yourself.
The Manhattan Walk wasn’t just about taking off a wig—it was about stepping into who I was, completely and unapologetically.
The Spark of an Idea
But I also realized something else: I wasn’t alone. So many people, whether they’re living with an illness or facing some other struggle, go through what I did—feeling isolated, uncertain, and scared. I didn’t want anyone to feel the way I did.
I wanted to do something about it. Not just for people with my condition, but for anyone facing a hard time. I wanted to help them tell their stories, find support from others who understand, and have access to trusted information and resources.
One day, I told my dad my idea. “I want to help people live with confidence. I want them to feel protected and supported. And I want them to have access to the knowledge and opportunities they need to move forward.”
That’s where my idea met my dad’s expertise. With his background in technology, research, and digital health, we started to imagine how we could make this happen—how we could scale my experience into something that could help people everywhere.
From Vision to Action
That’s how the Upstream Health Foundation was born.
Our mission is to make sure everyone has access to what they need to thrive—trusted knowledge, supportive communities, and opportunities like clinical trials that empower them to take charge of their lives.
It’s not just about the challenges people face;
it’s about how they live with them,
with resilience and support from those who understand.
At Upstream, we’re working to create a future where no one feels alone in their journey and where everyone has the tools to move forward with confidence.
I’m proud to be part of this mission, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.