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Sammy Mederos and 26 others have their heads shaved during a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event Sunday

Bald is beautiful

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Washougal third-grader and cancer survivor Sammy Mederos reacts to getting her long locks of curly blond hair shaved off by Shelby Cummings (left) and Holly Thorpe (right) during a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation Sunday at Washougal High School. Mederos was diagnosed with leukemia when she was in kindergarten. Now cancer-free, she and her parents, Michele and Dennis Mederos, helped organize the event. Her dad also had his head shaved.

Washougal third-grader and cancer survivor Sammy Mederos reacts to getting her long locks of curly blond hair shaved off by Shelby Cummings (left) and Holly Thorpe (right) during a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation Sunday at Washougal High School. Mederos was diagnosed with leukemia when she was in kindergarten. Now cancer-free, she and her parents, Michele and Dennis Mederos, helped organize the event. Her dad also had his head shaved.

Mederos takes a look at her newly shaven head on Sunday. She donated her hair to Locks of Love.

Mederos takes a look at her newly shaven head on Sunday. She donated her hair to Locks of Love.

Mederos, 9, talks to Washougal Mayor Sean Guard, who announced that June 9, 2013, would be recognized as "Sammy Mederos Day." To which, she gasped, then responded: "I have my own day?"

Mederos, 9, talks to Washougal Mayor Sean Guard, who announced that June 9, 2013, would be recognized as "Sammy Mederos Day." To which, she gasped, then responded: "I have my own day?"

Breast cancer survivor Mary LaFrance has her head shaved by friend Kay Ritter during Sunday's St. Baldrick's fundraiser. It was a poignant moment for both women. Ritter also shaved LaFrance's head when she was losing her hair due to chemotherapy treatments eight years ago.

Breast cancer survivor Mary LaFrance has her head shaved by friend Kay Ritter during Sunday's St. Baldrick's fundraiser. It was a poignant moment for both women. Ritter also shaved LaFrance's head when she was losing her hair due to chemotherapy treatments eight years ago.

"You did it!" exclaimed 8-year-old Sammy Mederos when she first saw Mary LaFrance's freshly shaven head. La France, a secretary at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School, battled breast cancer eight years ago.

"You did it!" exclaimed 8-year-old Sammy Mederos when she first saw Mary LaFrance's freshly shaven head. La France, a secretary at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School, battled breast cancer eight years ago.

Washougal Mayor Sean Guard takes it all in stride as Sammy Mederos gets a kick out of shaving the hair off of his head on Sunday afternoon. Guard also consented to having his beard shaved off, after a donor agreed to contribute $500 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "To be able to do this with Sammy, this is cool," he said. Look for additional photos from the event at www.camaspostrecord.com.

Washougal Mayor Sean Guard takes it all in stride as Sammy Mederos gets a kick out of shaving the hair off of his head on Sunday afternoon. Guard also consented to having his beard shaved off, after a donor agreed to contribute $500 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "To be able to do this with Sammy, this is cool," he said. Look for additional photos from the event at www.camaspostrecord.com.

It seemed as if the walls could barely contain the joyful energy that developed within Washougal High School Sunday afternoon. And right at the center of it all was 9-year-old Sammy Mederos.

Her lightly freckled face and bright eyes were beaming as she bounced from person to person, greeting each one with smiles, hugs and hellos, only standing still long enough to pose for a photo — or two or three. Her enthusiasm was contagious; she looked about ready to jump right out of her bright red Converse tennis shoes.

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