After hitting a fundraising target of $1500, Dittons Pharmacy employee Casey Orchard will bravely shave off her hair to raise money for breast cancer support.
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In conjunction with October being Pink Ribbon Month, Dittons staff has been hosting various fundraisers in store each Friday leading up to the big shave on October 31.
The team hope to raise as much as they can with all money being donated between the Inverell Breast Cancer Support Group and The McGrath Foundation.
"Being in pharmacy we come across a lot of people who suffer from different things, we've had customers that have gone through breast cancer and we wanted to make a bit of a difference and get a conversation started about the importance of getting checks," manager Hayley Morrison said.
When brainstorming the idea of hosting a community fundraiser, Hayley suggested some of the girls could their hair colour to pink as a conversation starter.
Casey agreed and added she was willing to undergo the chop as the cause was very close to her heart. Emma from Studio E donated her time and pink hair dye to help out. At the young age of 11 Casey said her mother was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
"I didn't even know what cancer meant so it was really, really scary. I made the decision back then I was going to get rid of my hair for Mum, she didn't like that idea. She told me 'if you want to when you're older, do it then'.
"I suppose I don't know why this October I've decided to do it... It just seems like the right time plus the National Breast Cancer Foundation wants to reach zero deaths by 2030."
On October 31 Dittons Pharmacy invites local residents to head in store from 11am to speak with a McGrath Foundation nurse before the barbecue fires up around lunchtime.
Brumbies and Sapphire City Meats will donate snags and bread for the sizzle with the big chop taking place around 4pm.
Depending on crowd interest, there may be a chance to bid on a section of Casey's hair for you to personally chop off before a professional comes in to tidy it up.
"It's not the best time in Inverell at the moment with the drought and people have been so generous so that's why we're excited to support the Inverell Breast Cancer Support Group and the McGrath Foundation.
"We also think our pink hair has been a great conversation starter, whether or not it means they get a check; at least they talk to us about what they've been through and that's been really lovely," Hayley said.
To find out more or to show your support drop in to Dittons Pharmacy tomorrow (Friday, October 18) and you'll be in for a treat as staff are hosting a delicious morning tea fundraiser.
"We have a hamper raffle up for grabs if people would like to buy raffle tickets. We're selling them in store and it'll be draw on October 31," Casey said.
Pink ribbons to be sold in store will support breast cancer research.
As for how she was feeling in the lead up to the big chop, Casey admitted she was a little nervous about parting with her hair.
"What I feel is nothing compared to what women and men facing cancer go through so I'll be fine. I'm putting my feelings aside and focusing on the cause."
