Austin plant employees from Hormel Foods Corp. presented a more than $12,000 donation to The Hormel Institute Thursday to support Paint the Town Pink fundraising efforts for cancer research.

The plant’s Helping Hands Committee organized activities to raise money, such as bake sales and raffles. This year, Timothy J. Fritz, plant manager of the Austin Plant, challenged his employees to raise over $10,000. In exchange, he dyed his hair and mustache pink.

“The Austin Plant employees are passionate about this event, and on behalf of our employees I’m thrilled to present our donation of $12,703.80 to The Hormel Institute to support their Paint the Town Pink fundraising efforts,” Fritz said in a press release.

Austin Plant employees have donated more than $44,000 since 2012 to support Paint the Town Pink fundraising.

“I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t been touched by cancer, and I think that is why we have such great success with this,” said Becky Rector, Austin Plant Helping Hands Committee member, in the release.