Call goes out for Shropshire beauty therapists to help cancer patients' recovery

The Look Good Feel Better monthly workshops at the Hamar Help and Support Centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital help Shropshire women who have been diagnosed with cancer.

One of the women that the service has helped is Sandra Hayley, from Market Drayton, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last December. She attended a session at RSH this week.

Their efforts may do more than just that. It is a truism that those in a positive state of mind are better able to combat life's challenges. And by providing beauty treatments, the everyday angels from Look Good Feel Better provide a significant boost to patients' emotional well-being.

Women who suffer from cancer frequently face a double blow. Their looks are frequently affected by treatments and that causes a loss of esteem and morale.

The Look Good Feel Better team offers simple treatments, like skincare and make-up, and the results are profound. Their indiscriminate acts of kindness go a long way to offset the trauma of a cancer diagnosis.

Shropshire has numerous charities and organisations that do a good turn to help the vulnerable and needy. And the volunteers who apply make-up or re-style hair are rewarded with the knowledge that they are doing something good to help others.

She said: "After I was diagnosed, I rarely went out of the house. Your confidence does take a big knock.

"I was a bit apprehensive about attending the session, but then I saw how many other people were here and that gave me the confidence to take part.

"It really does help. It makes you feel better about yourself and it looks so natural. When you've seen yourself before the treatment with your hair and then look in the mirror afterwards, it does affect you. But coming to these classes helps you learn some things you can do, and you are with people who are all in the same position."

Sessions are typically attended by around 15 women, but are growing in popularity, so now the charity is looking for more volunteers to join the team. Michelle Ebrey, Look Good Feel Better regional co-ordinator for the Shrewsbury area, said: "As well as having to deal with the diagnosis and treatment, many women with cancer can be devastated by the challenging side-effects, some of which can dramatically change their appearance and affect their body image. This includes things like hair loss – the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes can be particularly difficult to cope with.

"But the therapeutic and psychological benefits of women wearing make-up have been well documented. Each session we take the women who come to the workshops through 12 stages of skincare and make-up, teaching them the tricks so they can go away and do it at home.

"The people we are looking for need to be beauty therapists or have beauty training; for example they could work in a beauty salon or in beauty retail. It might also appeal to beauty therapy students who are just graduating. We are looking for friendly, reliable people who are able to commit to regular sessions.

"It is incredibly rewarding – I absolutely love doing it. It is just so nice knowing I have done something to help the lovely ladies that I see.

"As well as doing the workshop, we hold a raffle and we put on tea and coffee for the ladies, so they can sit down and chat to each other about their experiences."

Anyone who thinks they might be interested in joining the team is invited to go along to a workshop to observe. The next workshop will be held at the Hamar Help and Support Centre on July 21 rom 2pm to 4pm.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Michelle on 07940 329094 or call (01743) 261035.