Inside this month Singing at the Saddledome; Teagan Littlechief wows crowd in Calgary
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Volume 3 - Issue 10 October 20th, 2017
Darlene Olsen named Look Good Feel Better Heritage Hero
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Arcola’s Darlene Olsen (pictured) has been named one of Look Good Feel Better’s 25 Heritage Heroes, in honour of the charity’s 25th year in Canada. Dee Diaz, the CEO and President of Look Good Feel Better says of Olsen: “There’s really no one quite like Darlene - she is a rare gem exemplifying the very best of community leadership and spirit.” Photo|Larissa Cahute Lynne Bell CARLYLE OBSERVER observer@sasktel.net
Arcola’s Darlene Olsen is one of only 25 honourees from across Canada who have been named “Heritage Heroes” by Look Good Feel Better - in recognition of Olsen’s 20 years of fundraising and volunteering for the charity, which works to empower and support women with cancer. “Darlene has not only dedicated countless volunteer hours over 20 years, but has also been an enthusiastic and impressive fundraiser for Look Good Feel Better, having raised more than $200,000,” says Look Good Feel Better CEO and president, Dee Diaz. “Because of her time and philanthropic investment
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in the program, women and teens with cancer can feel more like themselves again.” “We are incredibly grateful to Darlene - for whom making a difference is just part of her DNA, coupled with the Mary Kay culture of giving back.” Olsen - described by LGFB as a “volunteer/ fundraiser extraordinaire,” says: “I feel so humbled. It’s an honour, but it’s not about me. I get much more back volunteering than I give. And I couldn’t do any of it without the help of many, many people.” “It’s really rewarding to help other women and to be at the Look Good Feel Better workshops and see what a difference it makes.” “I just do it because I enjoy it and I enjoy help-
ing the women feel better about themselves.” As a senior sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and as a volunteer of two decades for the Look Good Feel Better program at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre at Regina’s Pasqua Hospital, Olsen says raising money for the cause via Arcola’s Creative Tables For Cancer fundraiser (and other initiatives) was a natural next step for her as a volunteer. “I’ve been with Mary Kay nearly 40 years,” says Olsen. “About 25 years ago, Look Good Feel Better came to Canada and 20 years ago, it came to Regina. When I heard about it and the opportunity to volunteer, I thought: ‘Geez, I’d like to do that.’” Olsen says Look Good Feel Better is a free pro-
gram dedicated to empowering women to manage the effects of cancer and cancer treatments - specifically as they affect a woman’s appearance. “If a woman can look more like herself, she can feel more like herself and manage the disease and her life with greater confidence,” says Olsen. “And the workshops are a reprieve from the effects of cancer on a woman - physically and emotionally.” “I have never had cancer, so I really don’t know what people go through,” she adds. “I’ve had close friends who have had cancer and some have lost their battle. What I do know about cancer is that it’s all about the cancer and when people with cancer are in the hospital, it’s all about the treatment. And
if that’s done, it’s talking about the next treatment.” “Even when people with the disease leave the cancer clinic, they’re asked ‘How are you?’ or ‘How can I help you?’ And even though it’s said with the very best of intentions, it’s still all about the cancer.” “At the Look Good Feel Better workshops, that’s two-and-a-half hours where it’s all about them,” says Olsen. “We don’t talk about cancer; we laugh and it’s a time where they can forget about cancer.” “At first, a lot of the women are nervous, but within 10 minutes, they’re laughing. That’s because they find out their Team Leader - me - is a goofball,” laughs Olsen. “But they don’t have to pretend, either.” Continued on page 2
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