Going hairless for a few months seemed like a small ordeal compared to dealing with breast cancer, Tonya Asmus said Saturday as a shaver buzzed off her curly locks.
Asmus, 27, of Niles, had a great-grandmother who had breast cancer, and after Asmus participated in her first Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life — one of hundreds events held nationwide for the American Cancer Society —she knew she had to do something.

“You see a community come together and it’s the most amazing thing,” she said through tears.
“I got to a point in my life where I was like, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever done anything for my community,’” explained Asmus, who is married and the mother of a 6-year-old son. She has been a server at 13 years at Niles’ Plaza Restaurant, where a group of family, friends and customers gathered Saturday to support her as she underwent the daunting task of going bald.
Asmus came up with the idea in April, and she began taking pledges in August.
She had received $1,032 in pledges by Saturday afternoon, surpassing her goal of $1,000.
“A lot of pledges came from my customers,” she said.
The event is also timely, as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Niles resident Barbara Ferris, who recently had surgery for her breast cancer, encouraged women at the event to get regular mammograms.
“You can go through breast cancer and the treatment and still have your hair,” Ferris said. Ladies, get your mammograms. If I wouldn’t have had my yearly one, I wouldn’t have known.
“It is a big tribute to do this,” she said of Asmus shaving her head.
Asmus said it may take some time to get used to her lack of hair, but it will likely grow out quickly.
“It’s really airy. I can feel the light on it,” she said. “I want to thank the community … everybody for helping me.”