DURANGO, Colo. – Richard Carpenter’s hair is no longer pink, but while it was, it helped build awareness and raise funds last month to combat breast cancer. Carpenter’s companies, UltraSteam and RugMasters of Durango delivered checks to Mercy Hospital and the Southwest Women’s Health Coalition for $1,312 each.

Carpenter dyed his hair pink as part of the “Streak Durango Pink” campaign organized annually by local hair salons. Instead of last year’s streak, the local carpet cleaner went for the whole head, using it as a way to start conversations with people about cancer awareness and donating 10 percent of his company’s carpet and rug cleaning revenue for the month to the Breast Care Center and the Southwest Women’s Health Coalition.

The donation to Mercy helps support the new Breast Care Center, while the SW Women’s Health Coalition funding helps ensure that no woman in the Durango area goes without a mammogram.

“It’s a drop in the bucket,” said Carpenter. “But enough drops make the bucket full.”

As for the pink hair, Carpenter added, “I’ll keep doing it every year in October. I have an older sister who is a breast cancer survivor, and cancer has touched other family members too, so it’s personal to me.”

UltraSteam is a local cleaning company for carpet, stone, tile and grout, while RugMasters of Durango provides care, cleaning and sales of fine area rugs. Services are available Monday through Saturday by appointment. For further information, visit www.ultrasteamcleaning.com.

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