She raised $500 on Wednesday, December 5, as part of Shave for a Cure.

Ms Edgar credited friends and family who have suffered with cancer, as well as a career in palliative nursing, as inspiration for the fundraiser, but said she always wanted to give back.

“When I was 16, my cousin had a brain tumour – I was only 16 too, so it was a very hard time,” she said. “Then I was a nurse for 40 years, and saw a lot of suffering from cancer. My mum died of cancer, I’d had a mastectomy.

“I work at Yumaro, and there’s a man there with a brain tumour. He’s worth raising 400 bucks for – they’re all worth raising 400 bucks for.”

Despite experiencing the lows of mental illness, Ms Edgar remained determined to do something special.

“I’ve suffered from bipolar and schizophrenia all my life,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do something really special with my life, and I always feel I haven’t, and I’ve let myself down.”

She has been a resident at Opal in Denhams Beach for six years, and thanked employees there for supporting her fundraiser.

“I’m a totally different person now than I was six years ago,” she said. “I was 40kg and on death’s door when I came. The girls and guys who’ve looked after me here really looked after me –  and now I’m fat! 

“It was great today.”

Of her new “do”, Ms Edgar said: “It’s alright if you don’t look at it.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to her Shave for a Cure fundraiser can contact Opal in Denhams Beach.