Look Good…Feel Better, a free national community service program dedicated to improving the well being and confidence of people undergoing cancer treatment, recently held their annual media event at the Westin Hotel in Sydney CBD.
Jan Samuels, CEO of the Cancer Patients Foundation, welcomed guests and started her presentation with a touching video featuring Kelly Clarkson’s hit song Stronger as the soundtrack, before explaining a little more about the Look Good…Feel Better initiative.
Founded and developed by the Australian cosmetics industry in May 1990, Look Good…Feel Better is run under license by the Cancer Patients Foundation, which is the cosmetic industry’s charity of choice. In 2012, over 100,000 products worth more than $2.5 million were donated from a range of prestige brands including Avon, Beiersdorf, Benefit, Chanel, Cosmax Prestige Brands, Coty Australia, Dermalogica, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder Companies, La Praire Group, L’Oreal, LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Nutrimetics, Revlon, The Heat Group, The Purist Company, Trimex and True Solutions.
Separate workshops are held for women, men and teens and most workshops have about 10 – 12 participants. Workshops are held in over 185 locations across Australia and include sessions on skin care, makeup, wigs and head coverings and patients receive a Confidence Kit, full of products to take home.
Jan then invited one of the stars of the Stronger video, Jodie Queenan, to speak about her experience. Now volunteering for the organisation, Jodie gave an honest account of her battle with breast cancer, “You can’t understand unless you’ve experienced Look Good…Feel Better what it does to you and your confidence… I got to meet people on the same journey as me. The products were great and selected especially for our skin colour and type… I left the workshop that day feeling great and it strengthened my resolve. I’m going to beat this thing.” Jodie said she hopes more women can learn about it and attend especially since it is not just available in cities but regional areas too.
Jan said the service is looking to reach more patients than ever before in 2013 and hope to help patients not only feel more confident in their appearance but improve their well being. To date, more than 100,000 people have attended a Look Good…Feel Better workshop in Australia. They currently reach nearly 10,000 people a year and their goal is to support 15,000 people by 2015.
Most workshops are delivered by the organisation’s trained and certified volunteers, all of whom have beauty or cosmetic industry experience. The organisation also welcome others who may wish to volunteer in other roles. Volunteers and participants may not promote their own products, manufacturers or businesses during workshops. Find out more about volunteering or donating products to Look Good…Feel Better.