September is “Feel Better Month”

Look Good Feel Better, a free program which helps people face cancer with confidence, are celebrating Feel Better Month during September to raise awareness and funds – and they need your help. 

Look Good Feel Better is a free national community service program, run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side-effects caused by treatment for any type of cancer.

The past 18 months have been emotionally tough on everyone, but even more so on those who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Dealing with cancer can already be an emotionally isolating experience. Adding in physical isolation makes it that much harder to navigate such an overwhelming and confusing time.

Look Good Feel Better has always existed to help empower cancer patients, giving them a sense of control and confidence around how to approach the appearance-related changes they are experiencing as a result of their treatment. And with the introduction of Look Good Feel Better’s Virtual Workshops last year, the non-profit saw more cancer patients than ever benefit from their program.

To enable Look Good Feel Better to continue providing their program free-of-charge to cancer patients across the country, they are asking the community to show their support throughout September by helping them to raise awareness and funds.

Feel Better Month – how you can help

Look good, make change

For the whole month of September at David Jones, and from Sunday 5^th to Saturday 18^th of September at Myer, $1 from every lipstick or lip gloss purchased in-store or online will be donated to Look Good Feel Better in support of Feel Better Month.

Purchase a pop of colour for your pout, and know you’ll be looking good while making positive change through the Look Good Feel Better program!

Visit David Jones here and Myer here. And don’t forget to post a selfie tagging @LGFBAustralia and #LookGoodMakeChange

Feel Better, online!

In addition to their women’s, men’s and young adults Virtual Workshops, LGFB is offering a number of quick and easy tutorials through Facebook Live on some of the most commonly requested topics, as well as a range of virtual workshops focusing on overall wellness. They also have several language workshops available throughout the month.

A number of experts in their fields will be joining LGFB for the sessions, ensuring they’ll be packed with practical information.

The schedule can be downloaded here or viewed below.

To join LGFB on Facebook Live, follow facebook.com/LGFBAustralia and view each tutorial through the Events listing. To see available Virtual Workshop dates and times, click here.

Get creative

You can hold a creative (and ‘physically distant’) fundraising activity in support of Look Good Feel Better any time throughout the month.

Take a look at LGFB’s fundraising guide to get some ideas, and register your event.

Give a gift in celebration

If you are celebrating a special occasion in September, asking your family and friends for a donation to Look Good Feel Better rather than a gift is a remarkable way to make a difference.

Your generosity will allow more Australians to participate in the Look Good Feel Better program, helping them face their cancer diagnosis with confidence – an extra-special cause for celebration!

You can choose to create a fundraising page to share with friends and family or simply make a one-off donation – visit the Donate page here.

Share the love

Share a photo of your fundraising activity, or share one of our social media posts. Let your followers know about our cause, and encourage them to show their support too. The more people know about us, the more people we can help! Be sure to tag us – @LGFBAustralia and use #LGFBAustralia #FeelBetterMonth

About Look Good Feel Better

This year is the program’s 31st year of operation in Australia and more than 150,000 women, men and teens have participated in the program since the first workshop in Westmead, Sydney in May 1990. 

LGFB offers four services (COVID-19 restrictions permitting): 

Face-to-face workshops 

Pre-COVID, around 1,000 workshops in 180 venues across Australia each year are conducted. 

These workshops are run by a team of 1,000 dedicated volunteers who cover skincare techniques to address common side effects like dryness and sun sensitivity; makeup tips to help correct and conceal redness, sallowness, pigmentation and dark circles as well as techniques for drawing on eyebrows; and advice on headwear including scarf styling and wig selection. 

Each participant receives a Confidence Kit – full of skincare and makeup products donated by the cosmetics industry – to use as tools for application throughout the workshop and for continued use in their own homes. 

Participants also benefit from the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation. During the workshops, friendships and additional support networks are formed that can help during diagnosis and treatment. 

Home-delivered Confidence Kits 

For those cancer patients who are unable to attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop for health, travel or personal reasons, a supplementary home-delivered Confidence Kit service is available. 

Virtual Workshops 

Virtual Workshops are live and interactive and two options are available: 

Skin care and makeup (1 hour) addressing common side effects of cancer treatment like dryness and sun sensitivity; correcting and concealing redness, sallowness, pigmentation and dark circles; and techniques for drawing on eyebrows and eyelashes. 

Wigs and headwear (1 hour) offering advice on wig selection, wig care, scarf styling and alternative headwear options. 

Confidence consults 

While currently on pause during the pandemic, one-hour Confidence Consults are available in the Sydney-based Look Good Feel Better National Office. The service is provided by trained and qualified volunteers with experience in the beauty and hairdressing industries. 

All services provided by Look Good Feel Better have been developed with the purpose of empowering those undergoing cancer treatment, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to face their cancer diagnosis with confidence. 

Look Good Feel Better doesn’t receive any government funding, so they rely solely on the generosity of the community and corporate supporters to provide their program free-of-charge to cancer patients. 

To register for a workshop, request a Home-Delivered Confidence Kit, or support the program through donations or volunteering, visit lgfb.org.au or phone 1800 650 960.