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Dar Algra honored for 20 years as cancer volunteer
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By ZACH ANDERSON, Daily Leader New Intern
| 06/12/2009 |
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For many people going through cancer, one of the most difficult battles is the change in appearance that often accompanies treatment.
Dar Algra, a licensed cosmetologist from Madison, decided that he wanted to do what he could to help. Algra began volunteering with the Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) program, offered through the American Cancer Society. This month, he is being featured in the society's Triumph magazine for his 20 years with the program and to commend the program's 20 years in existence. Triumph is a nationally-distributed magazine for cancer survivors.
"I didn't really go looking for them; they found me," Algra said. "I was in state education and they trained us. I didn't know it was going to happen; it just sort of did. Twenty years later, I am still in it."
The Look Good Feel Better program is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Patients receive over $200 of free, brand-name cosmetics tailored to match their skin tone.
As a LGFB state trainer, Algra trains cosmetologists to assist cancer patients with makeup application and hairstyles to enhance their self-esteem.
What Algra works most with is wigs, turbans and scarf tying. All of the volunteers are cross-trained to do all forms of the treatment.
Algra describes the best part of his job. "It's the look on people's faces by the end of the class. What they thought was so scary really isn't so scary," Algra said.
"Look Good Feel Better has helped 50,000 cancer patients through its free services," said Autumn Van Buskirk, American Cancer Society program coordinator in South Dakota. "We are so grateful to Dar and other volunteers across the country for their dedication to helping cancer patients cope with appearance-related side-effects of treatment."
Algra said that his passion for training comes from seeing the patients' response.
"They come to a meeting feeling lonely and overwhelmed, but leave with new hope. They find there are solutions to their cosmetic problems that they never knew existed," Algra said.
The treatment is actually done in Sioux Falls among several other places in South Dakota. It is done at both hospitals in Sioux Falls.
"They are still expanding -- twice a month at one hospital, once a month at the other -- and they are going to try it at the cancer center," Algra said.
When asked how long he will continue to help with the Look Good Feel Better program, Algra said, "As long as it is ever needed, and if I can get there. It takes the scary stuff out of the chemotherapy treatment. It's really about the patient; that's what keeps me coming back."
If you are a cancer patient and want to attend a LGFB meeting in your area, or if you would like to volunteer with the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.
Look Good Feel Better is offered through a collaboration between the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the National Cosmetology Association.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2010
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