Look Good Feel Better

Cancer impacted my life from a very young age. Sadly, both my mother and father passed away after a diagnosis – my mother died when she was 46 and I was 10, and my father when he was 56. This difficult period impacted me deeply and has been imprinted on my behaviour since. Because of this loss, I have always appreciated the everyday, along with being very grateful to be in good health.

It is an unfortunate reality that most of us have been affected by cancer in some way, but I am relieved that there is now so much help available to manage the treatment process and ease some of the burden of a diagnosis.

I have been involved with Look Good Feel Better for decades now; first as a supporter during my time as a beauty department sales manager, and most recently in my role as Chair of the Cancer Patients Foundation, which is responsible for running the Look Good Feel Better program.

Having attended workshops and spoken to many program participants, I feel reassured that every individual who attends a workshop feels better. The joy they feel during each workshop and that small moment of reprieve from their often-aggressive cancer treatment directly corelates with the healing process. The program has a rare and impressive strike rate, and is therefore one that I feel passionate about building support for and awareness of.

Being part of the beauty industry and so closely involved with the charity, I am super proud of the never-ending generosity with regards to helping the community.

It is so rewarding to know that I, as an individual can make a difference, and I know that if everyone just gave a small amount towards helping others, we have the very real ability to make a significant improvement in the lives of so many people who are navigating such a challenging time.

Raising money in this economic environment is getting harder and harder, but taking on the Dry July challenge again this year is the least I can do to ensure Look Good Feel Better can continue to exist for the thousands who need it. And I am taking on the extra challenge of raising even more funds than we did last year, so I hope you will support me in achieving this for the benefit of all Australians undergoing cancer treatment.

Let’s make sure everyone has access to the Look Good Feel Better program for years to come.

Funds raised from Dry July 2023 are helping to fund Look Good Feel Better workshops and Confidence Kits, which connect a community of people living a shared experience, empowering them to regain control, a sense of self, and confidence.

Thanks to you, over 400 Australians will now be able to benefit from the program over the coming 12 months.  

I’m Karen - Mum of two adult daughters, wife of more than 30 years, and a career woman.

I’ve spent decades working to support regional and remote Australia along with the most disadvantaged members of our community, particularly our First Nations people. I was 54 in early 2021 when diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

I’ve now completed 12 months of active treatment with “the red devil” (AC chemo) along with Paclitaxel chemo, had a double mastectomy, complete hysterectomy, radiotherapy, and a couple of extra surgeries to deal with other side effects I experienced.

I was never a girly girl, not much into makeup, rarely blow drying or straightening my hair (unless there was a special occasion) and always felt more comfortable in jeans or shorts, runners, and a t-shirt. Once the side effects of treatment kicked in, however, and I had no eyebrows or eyelashes, I was being met at all turns with a lot of concerned faces and I could feel the discomfort others were feeling based on my presentation. I must have appeared a bit scary to be honest, despite feeling better than I looked.

I knew there were “tricks” that I could use to help, but I had no idea where to start. I certainly wasn’t going into a department store (covid and all) and I knew I also needed a LOT of guidance and practice. Just the thought of how overwhelming it would all be was a lot.

I decided to register for a Look Good Feel Better workshop and, apart from the generous supply of products which meant I never had to wonder what I needed, it was the absolute patience of the lovely volunteers helping me to figure out how to draw my features back on that helped me the most. I learned how to draw on my eyebrows and how to create the illusion of eyelashes, and also learned that makeup didn’t have to be complex or scary. It could be quite simple, and so could skincare. Being taught how to look after my skin during treatment ensured it came through in the best possible condition. The added benefit was getting to try out a lot of products in a really, really safe and non-judgmental space. Those things, along with a kind and encouraging group made my experience a wonderful one, and I walked out of the workshop not only looking more like me, but feeling confident I could replicate it. There was absolutely no downside to it.

My family was delighted. They all commented on how I looked “like Mum” again and that the spark in my eye had returned. It also stopped friends and colleagues asking me if I was okay all the time, as I now looked more okay.

When I was feeling good, what I learned at the workshop meant I looked it too. When I wasn’t feeling so good, what I learned at the workshop resulted in me feeling a bit brighter.

My lovely youngest daughter had done Dry July a few times already by 2021 - the year I was having treatment - and she has taken part every year since. She sees Dry July as a way to contribute through her own actions in making a change for others. Participating in, or supporting others to participate in Dry July is an opportunity to create change in our community and to contribute to something that’s important or impacted on you in a meaningful way.

I’m thankful for the support of the Look Good Feel Better program during my experience with cancer and know any Dry July funding will help others going through a similar experience feel a whole lot better too.

We are delighted to announce that with your help an astounding $82,889 was raised for Look Good Feel Better.

By taking part in Dry July, you’ve helped fund our confidence-boosting program, allowing us to support up to 828 Australians undergoing cancer treatment.

We are beyond grateful for your fundraising efforts and dedication. Over the past 12 months the Look Good Feel Better program has been able to expand its service offering. Thanks to people like you, we are able to provide those undergoing cancer treatment the opportunity to learn practical strategies to manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment, and improve health, fitness, mobility and mental wellbeing.

On behalf of Look Good Feel Better, we would like to thank you for your support and contribution to making a positive difference in the lives of people living with cancer