Randene Rizzuto, a dedicated volunteer and Workshop Team Leader with Look Good Feel Better, has been helping cancer patients manage the appearance-related impacts of treatment for over 24 years. This national non-profit provides psychosocial support through free workshops and programming, offering education, community, and emotional care to women, men, and teens affected by cancer.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Look Good Feel Better is one of Canada’s national non-profit organizations dedicated to psychosocial cancer support, particularly helping people manage the appearance-related impact of cancer and its treatment.
The organization offers psychosocial support to people before, during and after cancer treatment. Our complimentary workshops and programming provide education, information and emotional support to those in the midst of cancer treatment. We believe that the best medicine doesn’t always come in a bottle and cancer care needs to treat the whole person – including the well-being and the quality of life of the people that are affected.
What problem does it aim to solve?
A person diagnosed with cancer may not only lose her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows – they lose their sense of self, and may feel vulnerable in many ways. Look Good Feel Better met this need through free workshops to show people certain steps they can take so they can look good, feel better and get closer to the person they were before they began fighting this debilitating disease. Over time, LGFB has expanded to fill other gaps in psychosocial cancer support, with workshops that offer practical, important advice about key sources of anxiety during and after treatment.
Our programming helps our participants address some of the side effects of cancer at a time when there are so many things they must deal with. We offer in-person and online workshops for women, men and teens, which are led by expertly trained volunteers.
When did you start/join it?
I started volunteering with Look Good Feel Better 24 years ago at the Canadian Cancer Society – Jean C. Barber Lodge and have helped lead Vancouver-based workshops ever since.
What made you want to get involved?
I was working in the area around the Canadian Cancer Society and Jean C. Barber Lodge as a Beauty Advisor. I would have some of the patients and residents come shop in my store. I heard about the program which offered a skincare and makeup to women going through cancer treatment. I liked the idea of using my skills and knowledge to give back and help these women, manage some of the appearance-related effects of cancer and its treatment.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I first started with LGFB the program was new and small. At the time we only offered the Skincare and Makeup in-person workshops. There were lots of unknowns about cancer, and no one was talking about it. Now there is so much more information and I love seeing the support from the program and the participants.
We now offer numerous workshops including a teen program, men’s program, hair and wig, and a breast care program.
How has it changed since?
Look Good Feel Better has 30-plus years of offering trademark complimentary workshops, and the organization continues to thrive and grow to support the diverse needs of those impacted by cancer. This year, Look Good Feel Better is proud to have advanced its Feel Better Series, leveraging its national voice and platform to foster new collaborations with like-minded partners. This extension of collaborative efforts has resulted in a robust group of Look Good Feel Better psychosocial programs that offer confidence, knowledge and community to Canadians in all phases of their cancer journey.
Also this year, the organization collaborated to offer two new online events – Talking to Kids About Cancer and Cancer and Work, both offering important practical advice around two key sources of anxiety before, during and after treatment. Its Advanced Skincare and Areola Tattooing programs seek to help those facing cancer reclaim their confidence and maintain greater control over the physical impacts of treatment. Post-treatment nutrition workshops are also available to support participants seeking to rebuild strength, energy and overall health.
Meanwhile, Look Good Feel Better continues to offer its core workshops, which address skincare, colour cosmetics, and hair loss, both in person and online to support those facing cancer from coast to coast.
What more needs to be done?
For more than 30 years, Look Good Feel Better has been recognized for addressing the psychosocial needs of patients during their cancer journey, filling a crucial gap in supportive care. With 40% of Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the need for supportive care is stronger than ever. While resources for providing the well-rounded support and care cancer patients deserve have come such a long way, there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of continuing to hold ourselves accountable to improving this area of cancer culture.
How can our readers help?
Look Good Feel Better programming is solely funded through donations from the community, and Canadians can support our workshops here. We greatly appreciate every contribution! And if you know anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, please encourage them to sign up for one of our programs.
Do you have any events coming up?
Look Good Feel Better offers two in-person workshops at the Canadian Cancer Society – Jean C. Barber Lodge each month. Anyone interested in registering for an in-person workshop can visit our website.
If you need help registering or are unable to attend, please email workshops@lgfb.ca or call 1-800-914-5665.
Where can we follow you?
Canadians can visit our website to learn more about the organization, and they can follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
As a longtime resident of Burnaby, I love to support local programs. My favourite local charity is Burnaby Christmas Bureau – The Bureau provides Christmas Cheer to people with low income and living in Burnaby through the Toy Room and Seniors Hamper program. This time can be a challenging time for many people, especially seniors who are alone and on a fixed income.
