ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) รข€" The Miss Alaska pageant requires contestants to perform a public service project. Under Debbe Ebben's silver tiara is evidence of hers. The reigning Miss Chugiak-Eagle River has raised more than $4000 for children's cancer research for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, and last weekend, delivered on a promise to people who pledged by allowing her brown tresses to be buzzed off. She's proud of raising money, but the underlying message is for children who lose their hair because of cancer treatments. "You're proving it's OK to be bald regardless of whether you chose to be or not," Ebben said. Ebben, 23, stands 5-feet-4 inches tall, and her official talent is playing the piano. She has been entering pageants affiliated with Miss Alaska since 2007. She used scholarship money to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks for four years. She was motivated to get involved with St. Baldrick's by another beauty queen, Miss Virginia 2008 Tara Wheeler. Near the e! nd of her reign, Wheeler decided to raise $50000 for St. Baldrick's and pledged to become a "shavee" if she reached her goal. "She inspired me to get involved with them," Ebben said. "She did it kind of on the side after her reign. I decided to make it my entire personal platform." Ebben was looking for a different kind of community project. "It's my job as a title holder to make a really bold statement, and to be someone that people can look up to, and make an impact on the community. And that was
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