Breast cancer survivor Jo Crotty wanted to thank the nursing staff that cared for her throughout her cancer journey in the best way she knows how.
The Jaisby Creations business owner turned her passion for sewing into a philanthropic business, creating headscarves for those battling cancer and being treated with chemotherapy and radiation.
Mrs Crotty donates $10 from every headscarf sale to breast care nurses at Goulburn Valley Health, and since starting her business 12 months ago, has raised $530 for the cause.
“It’s my way of saying thank you for helping me through my journey and making people feel better,” she said.
The idea developed after a friend of hers, who suffered with cancer, requested Jo make a headscarf for her, as she was not able to find one that she liked.
Mrs Crotty said since she started selling headscarves, she had had women from across the region thanking her for making them feel special in otherwise trying times.
“I didn’t want to make money out of somebody else’s misery, but creating something that helps others feel better felt like the right thing to do,” she said.
GV Health Foundation director Claire Ewart-Kennedy said she was immensely grateful for the donation by Mrs Crotty.
“Without little things, big things don’t happen,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful story, and we thank Jo very much for her contribution and her work raising money for GV Health’s breast care nurses.”
Mrs Crotty has since expanded her business, making headscarves for children with cancer and beanies for men in the hope of raising more money.
“It feels good to give back to the community, so I try to any way that I can,” she said.
Headscarves are sold in the oncology unit at GV Health, Graham St, Shepparton, and on the Jaisby Creations Facebook page.