Pink day

Watching a family member suffer through breast cancer has been a struggle for Mike Caswell.

He was at Safeway volunteering for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Saturday for the grocery chains breast cancer awareness day.

“They get greatly fatigued,” he said of his family member. “It is a hard thing for a family to go through and I wouldn’t wish it on any other family.”

Caswell said he’s grateful that the grocery store has decided to host the day for the past decade as every little bit helps. The chain has raised more than $9 million since it started hosting the day in an effort to fight a disease that will effect one in seven women.

Employees at the Arthur Street store did they part as they surpassed a challenge by manager Gord Hampton to raise $400 between them. If successful, Hampton said he’d wear a pink gorilla suit on Oct. 20. The staff raised more than $600. It was a challenge Hampton said he wore with pride. On top of the staff contribution, the store asked customers to donate and were also selling popcorn and calendars for the cause.  

“‘This is huge money by great people with big hearts,” Hampton said after saying hello to customers dressed in his Saturday best.