Living through breast cancer and attending a Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) workshop didn’t just impact me – they completely changed the course of my life.

I’ve always wanted to have a job that was in service of people, and to be able to be the bright spot in someone’s day. Last year, in my 50s, as a grandmother of four, I finally did it — nearly a decade after my initial breast cancer diagnosis. I reinvented myself. I quit my job, graduated from an aesthetics program, and started my own business.

Through my business, I offer facials and non-invasive treatments. I always include a facial massage, too. I want to give every single client a deeply relaxing, restorative experience.

The skincare and spa parts of my business were directly inspired by my journey with cancer and LGFB. When I was going through cancer, my skin was a mess. I didn’t feel beautiful or like myself. And I was starved for touch.

There were days I was in the hospital for my treatment and surgery when there was no personal touch – just doctors in and out, surgeons, and stitches. But there was nobody there to wash my back or clean my face. That impacted me quite a bit and left a mark. I was deeply inspired by my own unmet need for gentle, healing touch during treatment.

Now, through my facials, I can offer that same healing touch to others. Touch offers real connection and emotional healing. Just yesterday, a woman told me, “That was better than therapy!” I love that part of my work. I just want to be the best part of someone’s day. And I truly believe that touch is transformative – especially for women and moms. We’re always giving, always putting other people first. We need to receive, too. Seniors, single women, people experiencing illness – there’s a lot of loneliness out there, and caring touch can make all the difference.

Alongside starting my business, I’ve also begun to volunteer. I remember watching hospital volunteers during my treatment and seeing the positive impact they had. I felt the same attending an LGFB workshop. I always thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have the time to be able to volunteer?” But I was a single mother of five, and at that point in my life, there just wasn’t time.

Now that my youngest is off to university, I can finally give back. I’ve been volunteering at LGFB’s workshops in Kitchener-Waterloo, and I love it. It feels like such a full-circle moment. I was once sitting in that LGFB chair, and now I’m guiding others through the same transformation. It’s essentially a makeover in an hour. People arrive with slumped shoulders, feeling uncertain and tired. By the end of the workshop, they’re transformed. They’re happy, they’re refreshed. They’re making plans together. They feel like their old selves again. It’s so rewarding to see that. And I love teaching because these lessons are invaluable. I still use the eyebrow technique I learned 10 years ago at my LGFB session! 

Through volunteering and running my business, I feel that I’m helping to redefine beauty and aging. After treatment, my hair grew back completely grey – and although it felt too soon to be grey, I embraced it. In fact, I got more compliments on my grey hair than I ever got on my brown hair. My greys, my scars – I embrace it all. I’m in the second act of my life, and it’s pretty amazing. I want to uplift other women going through similar changes.

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the people whose hard work, generosity, and dedication make our programs possible. 

Last year, more than 800 volunteers contributed 7,292 hours facilitating LGFB workshops in person at 80 locations across Canada and online—creating spaces where participants can reconnect with themselves, learn practical skills, and share meaningful moments with others who truly understand what they’re going through. 

In the face of cancer, we help people feel more like themselves again by EDUCATING and EMPOWERING them to help manage the appearance-related impact of the disease and its treatment. By building and delivering our programs with EMPATHY and EQUITY, we reflect and respect the unique experiences of all. 

Nobody embodies the mission of LGFB—or the four E’s—more than our network of passionate volunteers.  

Education

LGFB volunteers bring professional expertise in skincare, makeup, hair and scalp care, and breast care—knowledge that many people undergoing treatment might not otherwise have access to. These highly skilled community leaders help participants manage the visible effects of cancer treatment with dignity and confidence. 

Participants often share how these skills make a meaningful difference during a challenging time: 

“It’s a lot to think about, but now I am starting to use some recommended products and strategies and gaining more confidence as a result.” 

“The explanation of every step was excellent. There was no rush. I had lots of opportunities to ask questions and received many tips and suggestions on how and why to get particular items.” 

“Excellent facilitators making everyone feel comfortable and amazing teachers for someone who wasn’t that comfortable with things such as eyeliner.” 

Empowerment

Beyond practical skills, volunteers remind people going through cancer that self-care isn’t selfish and help them reconnect with their identity—something that can feel difficult during treatment. 

“For the first time since I started this journey, I was able to relax and nurture my feminine self. This felt very healing.” 

“This is a very low part of one’s life, so to have a few minutes to feel embraced, accepted, and build one’s confidence is so very important.” 

“The organization name LGFB is so apt! It really makes you feel so good and special. I highly appreciate the kind of environment which was created. I loved everything about the session. Kudos to the whole team!” 

Empathy

LGFB volunteers are trained to support people facing cancer and are experienced in communicating with compassion and understanding. Whether participants need a moment of laughter, a safe space to cry, or simply to feel heard, volunteers meet them exactly where they are. 

“The workshop is what I needed to bring me out of the little rock I was hiding under. I feel much better about myself.” 

“Sometimes you just need to forget about the cancer for a couple of hours.” 

“I found the biggest benefit of the session was to be among others going through the same experience and have a bit of levity and fun during a difficult time.” 

Equity

Whether workshops are offered in-person or online, LGFB volunteers work hard to cultivate welcoming spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. Their commitment to inclusion ensures that participants from diverse backgrounds and experiences can access the information and support they need. 

“I really appreciated the presenter’s information on wig alternatives for those of us who don’t wish to go the wig route.” 

“I’m so happy for the things provided. I got makeup/foundation that matches my complexion—that was a big plus for me!” 

“The ladies who conducted the workshop were very positive and reassuring. It really helped me to feel that I can get through this blip in my life.” 

Look Good Feel Better workshops would simply not be possible without our incredible network of passionate, community-based volunteers. And there’s no better way to illustrate their impact than through the voices of LGFB participants themselves. 

They are our leaders, connectors, and advocates across the country, bringing valuable expertise, warmth, and encouragement that make each workshop a place of learning, connection, and belonging. 

This National Volunteer Week, we extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to every LGFB volunteer.  

Your dedication gives people living with cancer a space to learn, reflect, and reclaim a sense of self. 

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and compassion of women everywhere. At Look Good Feel Better, we see that strength every day in the women navigating cancer who participate in our workshops, as well as in the caregivers—most often women—who stand beside them, and the health care professionals who provide compassionate care along the way. We are also deeply grateful for our community of volunteers, nearly all women, whose generosity and dedication help uplift patients with confidence, connection, and support throughout their cancer journey. 

Here are a few thoughts we’d like to share this International Women’s Day.

“I am so proud that Look Good Feel Better is a national organization that sees, supports and empowers women. On International Women’s Day, I want to recognize that women are at the core of so much of what we do – they are workshop participants, volunteers, donors, supporters, caregivers, healthcare professionals and LGFB staff.”

—Susan Larkin
President and CEO, Look Good Feel Better

“When we mentor women, we don’t just give guidance — we gain a stronger, braver, more equitable future. Give your experience, your voice, your support — and you gain a community of women who are ready to lead.”

—Louanne McGrory
Board Chair, Look Good Feel Better

“This year’s International Women’s Day theme #GiveToGain, is more than a message — it’s a mandate. It speaks to a fundamental truth: generosity is a catalyst for equality.

When we give — our time, our mentorship, our influence, our advocacy — we are not giving something away. We are investing forward. We are multiplying opportunity. We are accelerating progress.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside impactful organizations such as the Shoppers Drug Mart Foundation for Women’s Health, Go Further Women at Loblaw, and the Women’s Health Collective Canada — communities built on the belief that advancing women’s health and leadership is not a peripheral effort or initiative, but a societal imperative. These efforts prove that intentional collaboration creates sustainable, measurable change.

International Women’s Day is a call to action — at home, at work, and within our communities. Each of us has something to give. And when we give boldly and collectively, we don’t just support women — we reshape the future.

When women rise, the world rises with them.”

—Nneka Ezurike
Pharmacist, Pharmacy-Owner, Shoppers Drug Mart, Co-Founder, BBPC and International Speaker & Moderator

Volunteer Training

Volunteer Role Descriptions

Join a dedicated community of volunteers committed to empowering people facing cancer, making a meaningful difference, and growing personally and professionally.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Because our programs are led by local volunteers, our needs are always evolving. If you don’t see a suitable opportunity available in your region right now, we encourage you to check back again soon!

Global Reach

Look Good Feel Better Programs can be found in 27 countries around the world. Through these international sister programs – each operating independently but sharing the Look Good Feel Better name and mission – our efforts to help people with cancer are multiplied.

About Us

Every Canadian facing cancer deserves free supportive care. Look Good Feel Better empowers patients with practical tools, emotional support, and community through workshops and resources that build confidence and well-being before, during, and after treatment.

Volunteer with Look Good Feel Better

Every year, thousands of Canadians face the physical and emotional challenges of cancer treatment. By volunteering with Look Good Feel Better, you can help them regain confidence, connection, and a sense of self.