In under a decade, Darlene Olsen's fundraising efforts have raised over $407,000 for the 'Look Good, Feel Better' program, and more recently, the Moose Mountain Health Care Recruitment Program as well as the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, Canada, which assists women and children who have experienced domestic violence.
The annual Creative Tables for Cancer fundraiser has just celebrated its eighth year and although this year's numbers weren't available at press time, the fundraiser sells out every year and 2014's edition raised $26,000.
This year, Olsen has been recognized nationally by the Direct Sellers Association of Canada's award for volunteerism, as the recipient of this year's 'Making A Difference Award.' Both Sherry Abbott, executive director of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association and Dawn Gerry of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, Canada have made repeat visits from Mississauga, Ontario-including this year-to attend Creative Tables for Cancer in Arcola.
“Darlene is pretty awesome,” says Abbott. “People like her are the heart of what we do. She understands that it's not really just about the makeup. That's a creative tool that we're using to work together as women and facing the (cancer) journey head-on.”
Gerry says Olsen's award reflects who she is. “To say Darlene has made a difference in her country is an understatement. She's a leader, a mentor and a friend and her charitable activities are a relection of the woman she is.”
Olsen, who lives on a farm near Arcola with her husband, Allen, is a senior sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and has been a volunteer for almost 20 years for the 'Look Good, Feel Better' program at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre at Regina's Pasqua Hospital, and says that fundraising was a natural next step in her ongoing volunteer journey for this and other causes that impact women.
“But it's not about me,” she insists. “I get much more back by volunteering than anything I give. And I couldn't do any of it without the help of many, many other people.”
“I've been with Mary Kay for almost 37 years,” says Olsen. “About 25 years ago, 'Look Good, Feel Better' came to Canada and about 19 years ago, it came to Regina. When I heard about the opportunity to volunteer, I thought: 'Geez, I'd like to do that.'”
Olsen explains that 'Look Good, Feel Better' is a free program dedicated to empowering women to manage the effects that cancer and cancer treatments can have on their appearance, adding that if a woman looks more like herself, she can manage her illness with greater confidence, and during the workshop, have a reprieve from the all-encompassing effects that a cancer diagnosis can have on an individual.
“I personally have never had cancer, so I don't know what people really go through,” says Olsen. “I have had close friends who have had cancer-and some have lost their battle. What I do know is that most of the time, it's all about the cancer-and when they're in the hospital, it's all about the treatment, or if that's done, talking about the next treatment.”
“Even when people leave the cancer clinic, people with cancer are asked 'How are you?' or 'What can I do for you?' It's all with the best of intentions, but it's still all about the cancer.”
“It can even be hard to be your normal self with your friends,” adds Olsen. “If you're not sure if you'll be feeling well, it's hard to giggle and laugh, or plan a night at the movies or a day at the Mineral Spa, or any of those things girlfriends like to do.”
“At the 'Look Good, Feel Better' workshops, that's two-and-a-half hours where it's all about them,” says Olsen. “We don't talk about the cancer; we laugh. It's a time where they can just forget about it.”
“At first, they're nervous, but within 10 minutes, they laugh. They soon find out that their Team Leader-me-is a goofball.”
“At the same time, they don't have to pretend, either. But I would say that 90 to 95 per cent of the women we see at our workshops are over-the-top happy at the end of our session.”
Olsen stresses that confidentiality is key and that none of the volunteer beauty professionals at the workshops give their last name or where they're from and stresses, “We are not there to sell product.”
“To them, I'm just Darlene,” she says. “I don't know them and they don't know me. Nobody knows where anybody works, and we just use the products provided by 'Look Good, Feel Better.' They're from a number of different cosmetic companies-Mary Kay, Revlon, MAC, all of them.”
In addition to a makeover, each woman at a 'Look Good, Feel Good' workshop receives a case filled with cosmetics and skincare, bodycare, and nail care products.
“The products are donated by many, many cosmetic companies,” says Olsen. “But they're also approved medically by the Canadian Cancer Society, for use when they're going through treatment. The cases are actually sealed shut and when we start to work on our clients, we cut the seal and that's her kit. At the end of the session, they walk away with about $300 worth of product and they know how to use it.”
Olsen says workshop participants also receive a pair of 'Sparkle Ball' earrings courtesy of Regina's Hillberg & Berk jewellers. “I tell them there's no switching,” she laughs. “Because the pair they got is the pair they're meant to have.”
During her almost-two decades as a 'Look Good, Feel Better' volunteer, Olsen says attitudes have changed, as well as the ages and numbers of people affected by cancer.
“Some things I'll never forget,” she says. “The first time a lady took off her wig, it was shocking. Not because of the way she looked, but because 20 years ago, you didn't see that. Now you do. Women undergoing treatment for cancer often choose not to wear a wig, a scarf, or anything.”
“It's a lot more open now. Back then, everybody tried to keep it more private and secret.”
“But I still remember driving back to Arcola from Regina that day almost 20 years ago and thinking what a strong woman she must be.”
“Twenty years ago, the ladies were all older women and most were homemakers. Very few women we saw at the workshops back then had jobs outside the home,” adds Olsen. “Now we see a huge variety of women. The youngest I've seen was probably 16 and the oldest was 85. And part of this whole age thing is that we are seeing younger and younger women with cancer at our workshops. We've seen young moms in their thirties with busy lives, including full-time jobs.”
Olsen says that when she makes her drives into Regina from Arcola, she “has no idea who I'll see that day, or what their story is.”
“Once I got a young grandma who got a makeover and also received a pair of 'Sparkle Ball' earrings. Her granddaughter was getting married and she said that for the past two months, she was dreading the wedding. When I finished her session, she told me that she was really looking forward to going. It's such a simple thing-looking your best-but it gives you that confidence.”
“That's why I volunteer. People often ask me if it breaks my heart, but it doesn't. It warms my heart.”
Olsen urges anyone who knows a woman undergoing cancer treatment in this area to contact 'Look Good, Feel Better' at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina or to simply call her.
“There are pamphlets in the waiting room and probably posters all over the place, but a friend of mine pointed out that when someone goes in for treatments, they're often sitting there, zonked out or totally not thinking, because they're afraid or sick or tired after treatment.”
“And that's true,” she says. “When you're scared, you don't notice anything in a doctor's office.”
When asked, Olsen says that her commitment to the cause-both as a volunteer and a fundraiser- will continue.
“I don't think I've ever, ever thought about quitting,” she says. “And the volunteers get much more out of it than the women we work with.”
“It's just a feeling of doing something that's worthwhile for someone who really appreciates it,” adds Olsen.
“Twenty years ago, was I this nice or compassionate or understanding, this caring? I don't think I was.”
“Doing this has made me a better person.”
For more information, visit www.lgfb.ca or call Darlene Olsen at (306)-455-2554.
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