Catching up with the headlines: The bald and the beautiful

By The Beacon | April 20, 2011 9:00pm
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Senior Mikel Johnson shaves her head for cancer awareness

(Kevin Kadooka -- The Beacon)

By Amanda Blas, Staff Writer -- blas13@up.edu

Senior Mikel Johnson said goodbye to a full head of hair and the chance of bad hair days and hello to supporting a good cause to help raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Johnson shaved her head on the steps of Franz Hall during UP's seventh Annual Relay For Life which was last Saturday through Sunday morning on the academic quad.

"Everyone was cheering on," sophomore Hannah Crosby, who was part of the Relay For Life's luminaria committee, said. "It was meaningful for the whole event."

Johnson said she got the idea to shave her head from a UP student who did it a couple of years ago. As co-captain of Mehling's Relay For Life team "Breast Friends," Johnson was motivated to shave her head to help raise money for the team. Johnson and her team managed to raise more than $1,200 in donations from the event alone.

"We did it as a voting system, with each dollar that was donated counting as one vote on whether I should shave my head or not," Johnson said. "A significant number of people voted that I should shave it."

Johnson also earned her team the award for "Most Spirited" from the Relay For Life.

"I think it was very courageous of her, and I don't think many people in her position would do it," Hilary Elgin, UP's staff partner from the American Cancer Society, said.

Johnson's decision to shave her head was motivated by personal reasons, as well.

"My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I wanted to get involved," Johnson said. "I wanted to do something that brought in lots of donations, but I also wanted to do something that would make the biggest statement possible."

Johnson wanted to contribute to the effort to increase cancer awareness.

"People need to understand the fact that it does affect so many of us," Johnson said. "People think that you if you do this or that you'll get cancer, but it's not like that. They need to recognize the extent in which it affects our society."

Johnson believes she has been successful with her statement so far.

"A lot of people who didn't even know anything about the Relay For Life ask why I did it," Johnson said. "Even if they didn't donate, they still know more about cancer awareness than they did before."

With all the support Johnson has, it makes one wonder if she would ever do it again.

"I definitely would," Johnson said. "It was fun and effective, and I'm sure there are other aspects I would add if I ever did it again."


(Kevin Kadooka -- The Beacon)

(Kevin Kadooka -- The Beacon)

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