Rosemary heads up the “lively” Bold Bandannas, a Relay for Life team made up of mostly retired preschool teachers from all over the ACT.

The team started in 2000 and has so far raised more than $245,000 for cancer research.

Rosemary says the Bold Bandannas started when she saw a Relay for Life advert on her preschool-assistant payslip.

“I thought, why not, so I stood up at an ACT-wide preschool staff meeting and asked if anyone wanted to form a team. We had 12 people interested and in the first year we raised $1600.”

Rosemary says the team grew over the years, as did the amounts raised, but one year its total was $9000 and she says she knew they could do better.

“It was okay, but I felt embarrassed and after that my commitment intensified,” she says.

“Every year after that we raised more and more – last year was almost $28,000. That’s more like it!”

As well as participating every year in the Relay for Life at the AIS, the Bold Bandannas have hosted trivia nights, dinners, theatre parties and a regular charity stall at Fyshwick Markets, as well as selling homemade pickles and jams, and Rosemary’s handmade dress-up clothes that she sells to preschools.

Rosemary also raised $3000 shaving off her straight, waist-length hair last year.

“Cutting my hair off was so liberating, it took no time at all to wash or get ready in the mornings,” she says. “It’s also grown back curly which is interesting!”

Rosemary says the Bold Bandannas’ success wouldn’t be possible without community support.

“So many organisations are consistently generous to us, including Curves, Deakin Soccer Club, Southern Cross Club, the Irish Club and Cooleman Court,” she says.

“The staff at the Cancer Council are also supportive to the team… Nothing is ever too much trouble.”

Rosemary says she retired at the end of 2012, but finds that fundraising is now a full-time job.

“I’m always sewing, cooking, sending emails and organising events,” she says.

“I couldn’t do a lot of it without my husband – he has taken over cooking dinner, as I’m always in the sewing room!

“He’s become more supportive of me along the way, as he realises that I’m not giving in.”

Rosemary credits her determination to the team’s success and says that if she makes a commitment, she sticks to it.

“We are the only team who has walked in every relay since we started,” she says.

“Over the years we’ve lost two of our team to cancer and some are survivors, which makes us more determined to carry on.

“Once I latch on to something it’s with a passion and I don’t give in easily.

“There is no one that can say they haven’t been touched by cancer, and by continuing to donate money to research we are fighting that cause in the hope that one day they will find a cure.

“While I’m able, I’ll continue fighting.”

All preschool staff, past and present from across the ACT, are invited to the Preschool Staff Dinner, Deakin Sports Club, Grose Street, Deakin. Saturday, September 19. Tickets $60 each, bookings to 6288 7752.