Hoover High Junior Goes Bald For Childhood Cancer Research

Kenzie Johnson figured if her "mini-me" could shave her head to raise money for childhood cancer research, so could she.

Johnson, a 16-year-old junior at , is following in a younger student's footsteps this year as she shaves her head Sunday at the St. Baldrick's Foundation event at Quaker Steak & Lube.

She had been told by several people at school that she had a mini-me, and it happened to be , who we featured in our St. Baldrick's . Students said she looked and acted just like Johnson. 

(We see the similarities, too.)

"I saw her and I said, 'Oh my gosh, that takes serious courage, shaving your head,'" Johnson said. "And the more I learned about it, the more I wanted to do it."

Johnson said her hair salon, GSV Design Group, also is a strong supporter of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. You can typically find GSV hairstylists donating their time by shaving heads at the Canton event each year.

"I kind of started freaking out a little bit, because my hair is my main thing. I love to play with it," Johnson said. "When it was settling in that I will have no hair, it was kind of scary. But you know what? Cancer is scarier. So, I think I can handle this."

Johnson's admittedly lucky; cancer hasn't hit too close to home. The mother of her friend from elementary school is a cancer survivor, and a longtime friend and church-mate had passed away from lieukemia.

Hoping to raise $250, Johnson now has raised $680 and continues to take pledges in person and on her St. Baldrick's Foundation profile. You can learn more about Johnson — and see how many hair colors she's sported recently — on her profile page.

Johnson said the response from the community has been great. She can't recall anyone turning down an opportunity to donate to her endeavor.

The countdown is on: Johnson is scheduled for her shave at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at .

Johnson is the daughter of Kellie and Todd Johnson and sister to older brother Ben. In addition to advocating for childhood cancer research, she's into sign language, math, running and art.

The painting she's holding in the North Canton Patch photo was created in 's Art 3 classroom and depicts a cancer survivor.