Dry July NZ Trust

Feel Better Classes are at the very core of what we do – free, accessible, local classes for any person, facing any cancer, at any stage of their cancer journey.

Thanks for the support of Dry July, LGFBNZ continues to adapt class times, content, locations, days and frequency to best meet the changing needs of people facing cancer in our communities.

At a glance;

• Saturday classes have increased by 96% from 25 classes in 2018 to 49 classes in 2019 scheduled at this time.

• We now have Saturday classes in over 95% of our centres.

• Average Saturday attendance is now tracking ahead of week day classes – 25% higher attendance, overtaken the weekday attendance.

• 200 cancer patients attended Saturday classes in 2018

• In 2018 we had over 2500 registrations and have over 270 classed scheduled for 2019

• Two new centres

• 12 pop up classes

• Active in classes for over 800 hours

• 12,000 touch points

• Over 5000 direct volunteer hours – volunteers supporting a participant sitting in a class

• On average and excluding public holidays and Sundays, there is now a LGFB class running somewhere in NZ almost daily.

In 2018, feedback showed the following;

• 97% of participants when asked whether they would recommend the class to others facing cancer, gave it an 8 or above out of a possible 10 (85% giving a 10)

• The overall rating for the class was 98% of attendees gave it the two 2 ratings, with 90% giving their overall experience the highest rating

• 81% felt confidence was increased

• 87% felt their morale had been lifted

• 82% said they felt they were able to connect and share with others

• 98% were either very satisfied or satisfied with our local facilitators

• 97% when asked to rate the class content and structure gave it the top two ratings.

• 97% found the class’s tips and techniques either very useful or useful

What attendees are saying about their experience;

“It did boost my confidence and it was really nice to meet the other participants and share stories and tips. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing such a great service”

“A truly wonderful experience. Thank you all for contributing to my journey”

“It’s a little bit of me time, in a sea of crazy, you’ve got that little couple of hours, two or three hours of me time.”

“I’d encourage anybody to do it…. It is like a sea of crazy and then it goes calm.” 

“Because (cancer) it is really isolating. It’s like a personal journey and everyone goes through their own personal journey with cancer but it’s nice to have people that are on a similar journey to you.” 

“On a tough week it helped me to smile again” 

“It was a day just about me, not the disease”

“It was good to connect with others facing cancer like me”

“I just want to fit in, look and feel more like my normal self”

Thanks to Dry July Funding, in October LGFBNZ gathered over 35 Volunteer Coordinators and Facilitators from around the Country for a first ever joint conference session. The goal was to continue to develop and grow the classes to meet the demand of increasing diagnosis of cancer throughout New Zealand. New additions to classes were shared over the two days including;

- Breathing techniques - Breathing exercises have been trialled in the Auckland classes with a great response. On the back of this trial, we have trained our facilitators on these techniques, which will be added to future classes. 

- Easy t-shirt head coverings for participants was part of the demonstrations throughout the conference. LGFB aims to provide tangible tips and techniques. So that all participants can take something away that will help them tomorrow. The LGFB Facilitators have now been taught simple scarf tying techniques and tee shirt head wraps to share with their participants.

- Change in the class format – Feedback demonstrates a strong theme of connection between the participants. The time they feel most comfortable to connect is midway through the programme so the sessions have been tailored accordingly.

- The men’s programme was shared with all facilitators, and a programme of training for 30% annual growth in centres throughout New Zealand was introduced.

Additional outcomes from the conference include:

• Development of more Saturday locations for participants in 2019 - Over 97% of past participants indicated that if offered they would have preferred a Saturday class. In line with this in late 2018 and 2019 we set a goal at the conference that every region in New Zealand will offer a Saturday class.

• Development of Pop up centres for more rural regions - 5 pop up areas were identified for trials in 2019.

• Introduction of additional steps within the programme to complement the current signature steps

• Introduction of video content to support the programme

• With the developments and increasing need for volunteers with strong technical knowledge comes the need for formal annual training and support material. A programme of training early in 2019 will be introduced and the plan for development of “Youtube” instructional videos was presented.

• The introduction of participant advocates in the regions to support awareness of the programme through volunteer support

• The introduction of completely centralised participant booking and confirmation service.

• Development of more men’s locations in 2019

• The development of volunteer acquisition for Saturday classes and new centres

• Support for volunteer retention in the 38 current core regions.

A huge thank you to Dry July participants for helping LGFBNZ ensure our programmes are evolving, accessible and best meeting the needs of any person, facing any cancer, at any time.

Tyrin Naidoo knows the importance of looking after yourself, and has always taken pride in his appearance. Until a cancer diagnosis made it all seem a bit frivolous.

Having been a civil engineer overseeing infrastructure projects, starting cancer treatment in May 2017 made him exhausted, in pain, and sometimes depressed.

Attending a Look Good Feel Better men’s class helped give him the boost he needed to face cancer.

“The class reminded me, firstly that I am not alone on this journey, and secondly you have to ensure you look good on the outside, so you feel better on the inside,” he says.

LGFB is using funds raised by Dry July participants in 2018 to boost the men’s programme by 30 per cent. The free classes are for men with any cancer and at any stage, in eight centres around New Zealand.

Tyrin has put his career on hold, wanting to focus on his recuperation and was initially nervous about attending the class that has the motto “Live Stronger, Live Better”. The one-hour session includes how to protect your skin, best shaving practices, masking the side effects of treatment and the importance of regular physical exercise.

Tyrin was recommended the class by Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and now advocates other cancer patients attend too. Like many undergoing cancer treatment, he has suffered from many side effects from his illness and treatment – and he wanted to live as normally as possible.

“There are a few friends that don’t know about my illness so I don’t talk to them about it and act as normal as can be.”

Tyrin admits there have been moments where he has living in denial, but likes to see the positives in what has been an arduous 18 months.

“I have a supportive family, a lovely wife and two boys – one and two. If I hadn’t got sick I would have been working long hours and would have missed out on time with my boys while they are little. Now I am at home with them more. I have learnt to live with less – and get joy from my family.

“The class wasn’t anything like I expected it to be, it was very educational, and it is really good to remind yourself of all the things you used to do and how it makes you feel when you look good – you actually do feel better.”

Mum-of-two Elaine Kuri’s world changed in a day when a check up for a sore muscle was diagnosed as stage 3 breast cancer, and further tests revealed stage 3 lymph node cancer too.

Quickly this successful businesswoman’s life went from senior exec meetings to hospital appointments, and the once vibrant manager became a cancer patient who was merely existing.

“I had to shave off my long hair, so I didn’t even look like me anymore. The Look Good Feel Better workshop gave me my confidence and independence back,” the 44 year old says. 

“Being able to now draw my eyebrows and feel confident and have a smile on my face again – even though I was going through crap - made such a big difference. 

“I might be feeling really horrible inside and I have got another chemo session and I visualise all of the side effects I am going to go through for the next few days, and the thought that I might be in hospital again.  

“But just putting on that make up – I can smile again and look at myself in the mirror and say ‘you know, it’s ok, I can get through this’. I have some control back, I have a choice.” 

The class was an appointment she looked forward to, one that wasn’t yet another medical treatment or check up. And, very soon into the class, Elaine says, there was a palpable shift with the women initially sharing details of their cancer, and treatment. Then as they had their make up applied the conversation turned to how nice they looked, and admiring the colours in the make up. 

“Suddenly the conversation was normal conversation, we were normal women even though we had the bond of cancer.  

“Thank you Look Good Feel Better, you helped me find me again.” 

Waiora has had surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, skin cancer, from her face three times - and she lives with the worry that the operations may not be her last.

Grandmother to three girls, Waiora resides in an eco village in Ranui, and attended a West Auckland Look Good Feel Better class. She wanted to learn how to disguise her misshapen lip, the legacy of having had three cancerous lumps removed in eight years.

“To others it wasn’t discernible, but it was to me. And the class was so humbling. I went back to work and I said “I feel like such a fraud. I have only had this”.  

“I was in a class where women didn’t have their hair, they didn’t have a breast, they were going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy.  

“I learnt how to subtly apply products and then when I looked in the mirror I just thought ‘wow’. I thought I looked really great.  

“At nearly age 60 it has made such a huge difference in my life. As someone who has had cancer, who thinks that cancer may return again, just looking and feeling the best that I can makes such a huge difference. 

“When you feel better, it just radiates from your face and you have a tingle in your toes.” 

Waiora, who spent most of her life in Whangarei and Hokianga, had wanted a tu moko on her mouth and chin, to acknowledge her heritage, but she now wants to leave her face clear so she can watch for any changes. 

“I don’t think I will do that any more”, let’s leave things as they are.”