Cancer charity hub helps more than 150 at weekend

Cancer survivor Sandra Strachan (in mirror) completed the Look Good Feel Better programme which visited Napier this weekend and loved it. Photo/Paul Taylor

A cancer charity education hub stationed at the top of Emerson St in Napier at the weekend has been hailed a success.

Look Good Feel Better, a charity providing free "Feel Better" classes for people with cancer, parked up a mobile shipping container in Napier this weekend to raise awareness about the programme.

Hawke's Bay workshop tutor Di Foote said she was "blown away" with the number of people who stopped by during the weekend; estimating more than 150 locals called in to chat to volunteers about Look Good Feel Better.

"It was amazing everyone was just blown away. There were lots of people, maybe around 70 per cent, who had never heard of Look Good Feel Better," she said.

The Hawke's Bay programme, free for any woman diagnosed with cancer, is a two hour class providing those with cancer the opportunity to relax, have fun and learn about how to deal with practical problems such as hair loss and skin-related issues.

Three people registered for the programme at the weekend and many others took information pamphlets to pass on to friends and family members with cancer, Ms Foote said.

Napier cancer survivor Sandra Strachan was at the container on Sunday and said she had enjoyed completing the programme three years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"It was amazing. It was very nice to be around other people who had been through the same thing as me."

Ms Strachan said she loved it so much she went on to give the charity's details to a colleague who was also diagnosed with cancer.

"She did the programme and couldn't speak highly enough of it,

"Probably because most of the volunteers have been through cancer. They've got quite a lot of empathy and are caring and lovely ladies."

Ms Strachan said she was pleased to see so many information pamphlets in the container and thought this would help spread the word about the charity as many only hear about it through word of mouth.

Now moving on to other towns in the North Island, the Look Good Feel Better container will be launching its men's programme in Hamilton at the end of the month; something Ms Foote said she is working to bring to Hawke's Bay soon.

Ms Foote said those who join the programme have the chance to make lifelong friends with one another and become more confident about facing cancer.

"They walk out of the programme and don't feel alone anymore," she said.