Workmates raise money and donate blood to help friend beat cancer

A Mt Druitt teen has been overwhelmed by the support of her workmates after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Shania Giles is raising money to help her friend Cassidy Hawke who has leukaemia. Picture: David Swift

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WHEN Cassidy Hawke was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, her Red Rooster Mt Druitt workmates added “love and support” to their weekly roster.

They raised money to assist the Mt Druitt teen and her family and donated blood to help all cancer sufferers.

Store manager Shania Giles, 19, set up a GoFundMe page to supplement Cassidy’s loss of income while she underwent treatment. The fund has raised $1815 so far, including several hundred dollars from the restaurant’s owners.

When the staff could not spare money, they donated blood and took turns driving Cassidy to and from doctor’s appointments.

Cassidy was overwhelmed by the support of her workmates. Picture: David Swift.

The staff have even covered her full-time shifts and promised her job back as soon as she is strong enough to work again.

Cassidy began chemotherapy mid-year, after she was diagnosed with the aggressive blood cancer.

Her manager immediately began fundraising. For Miss Giles it was just what you do for a friend in need.

“We thought when she was diagnosed she was going to need a lot of time off work; we just wanted to make things easier for her if we could,” Miss Giles said.

Cassidy said she was overwhelmed by the support.

“I don’t know how to repay them,” she said.

Cassidy’s mother Kathrina Mathis expressed her gratitude: “It’s absolutely amazing. Without Shania and all their support I don’t know what we would’ve done.

“They’ve gone further than beyond the call of duty.”