By the hair on their heads ... Published July 22, 2011 By Anne Morrison Hilltop Times Staff HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Edna Maggard has Stage IV lung cancer. And like most cancer patients, she has lost her hair amid harsh radiation and chemotherapy treatments. "The first time coming to work after I shaved my head was the roughest day of my whole life," said Maggard, a management assistant in the Ogden Air Logistics Center Combat and Missions Support Branch. But only a few patients are lucky enough to have co-workers who are willing to shave their heads along with her. The first up to the cutting chair of Maggard's eight co-workers in the branch was Sara Drake. Drake, a logistics management specialist, said she had tried to shave her head for her mom during the seven times she lost her hair from the treatments over a 19 year cancer battle that eventually took her mom's life. And after losing her mother to cancer, Drake jumped at the decision. "I've been saying this for years, I'm doing it," Drake said. Maggard got to take the first chunk of hair off of her co-worker's head. Drake said Maggard was more scared to cut Drake's hair than she was to have it cut. "I was terrified, but the fact that she was so upset helped me right out," Drake said, chuckling. One other woman from Maggard's office also got a buzz cut. The rest of the six were men. But the support she feels from her office doesn't lie within just those eight people. Maggard has had at least two fundraisers to help with her rising medical bills. One was set up by her sister who lives in California and promoted through co-worker Amie Villiard at the Chili's Restaurant in Riverdale. Villiard said most of the office came, and raised $530, breaking the record for money raised in a fundraiser at that location. There was another Chili's fundraiser in California that her sister organized as well, and her brother set out a jar at the paintball field he works at to collect donations. In addition, Villiard set up a bank account for donations under her name at America First Credit Union under the "Edna Maggard Cancer Fund." Another co-worker Bob Gardner is setting up a benefit concert to be held Sept. 17 at Rainbow Saloon in Roy. And against Maggard's wishes, her co-worker, Carma CooperJones showed up at the hospital when Maggard received her diagnosis. "I didn't think I'd want anyone there with me, but it was really nice to have someone there to talk to," she said. Maggard also said she was once approached in a grocery store and asked if she needed help by a cancer survivor. She was shocked at the massive community of cancer patients and survivors, and how willing people are to help. But despite the rush of monetary support from around her, Maggard still believes in good old hard work. The former 309th Aircraft Maintenance Wing wrench-turner still shows up to work whenever she can, despite being treated with chemotherapy and radiation five times a week. The radiation has singed her esophagus and Maggard is left without the capability to eat and with barely any voice left, but she still makes it into work whenever she can. "The fact that she can get up every morning and make the conscious decision to come to work speaks volumes," said co-worker Mike Counsellor. She admitted some days are better than others, but said her co-workers are "making it a lot easier to go through." And through it all, she said she is coping with the disease well and looks forward to the day when it is ridden from her life. "I have cancer," she said. "It doesn't have me."