DEE DIAZ
President & CEO, Look Good Feel Better
LYNDA ROSE
Chair, Look Good Feel Better
I
f 30 years of supporting women and teens facing cancer has taught us anything, it is that each person’s experience is unique. Some find strength in sharing their experiences with their wider social networks on blogs, Instagram and Facebook – platforms that didn’t even exist when we ran our first workshop. Others prefer to share with a smaller circle of family or close friends. All women facing cancer need the support, tools and resources to help them through their diagnosis and treatment. They need to be empowered and informed to manage issues beyond the medical. When we first started Look Good Feel Better, mental health and psychosocial support were not part of our everyday language. Mental health was more likely to be spoken of in whispers – if at all. Yet,
4 I LOO K GOO D FE E L B E T TE R
our founding partners and volunteers inherently knew that when a woman feels like herself and takes back some control, her spirits are lifted and her resolve strengthened. Since we began, numerous studies have confirmed that optimism and a sense of self have a profound impact on one’s wellness and quality of life during cancer. Plus, we’ve heard firsthand from the very women attending our workshops just how valuable LGFB was to them when they felt alone or unsure. Just as colour palettes, wigs and make-up trends change and evolve over the years, so too do we. We are proud that we have stayed true to our core program, while adding new supports such as our breast care workshops, our teen program, and online video tutorials. Our greatest accomplishment has been providing a safe space for
women to share their unique stories and experiences, and gain strength, support and friendship from other women and volunteers who have or are facing cancer. As LGFB celebrates 30 years of support, the benefits of ‘better together’ remains our mission’s true north. We hope that you find encouragement, inspiration and helpful information in our magazine, through our workshops, online and on our social channels. However you choose to connect, we’re always here for you. We consider it our deepest privilege to be there for the women we love – today, tomorrow and for the next 30 years.
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PHOTOGRAPHY MARK SHORT HAIR + MAKEUP CAITLIN CULLIMORE
A Message of Hope
