Napier' s Di Foote has had a cancer diagnosis herself, as well as losing friends and family to the disease, and says the support of the cancer society has been invaluable.
At the age of 15 she lost her mum to breast cancer, her stepson Jason died eight years ago from melanoma when he was only 32, and she herself had two lots of cancer, 14 and 15 years ago.
She said "her mother's death inspired her to help others", and in 1993 she started working with Look Good Feel Better, the international programme aimed to helping people face cancer with confidence through help with the visible side effects of cancer treatment including hair loss, eyebrows, eyelashes and other skin related issues.
Mrs Foote said the Cancer Society gave her invaluable support to run the classes in Hawke's Bay, and through the people she met and fitted wigs for while they were undergoing treatment, she could see the difference the society's support made.
Everybody felt overwhelmed initially, but once they made contact with the Cancer Society they felt they were not so alone, she said.