American Cancer Society Mission Training and Support for Volunteers

Meet Your Area Trainer!

Barbara became a Look Good...Feel Better Area Trainer in 2008 and has since equipped many volunteers in the Greater Bay Area/Redwood Empire to approach the program with as much dedication as she has. She explains "I always try to remember why I am doing this. It is not about me, it's about these lovely ladies.  The ladies are so thankful for the time we give.  We guide them along taking one baby step at a time toward one more birthday."

Chenal Ptacek, Greater Bay Redwood Empire: Marlene Chenal Ptacek has been a Cosmetology Instructor for over 27 years.  She was originally trained as a Look Good...Feel Better volunteer in 1991 and she has been actively involved in the program ever since.  Several years ago, Chenal took another step in her involvement with Look Good...Feel Better and became an Area Trainer for the Greater Bay Area/Redwood Empire.  Throughout her involvement, Chenal has seen may cosmetologists and cancer patients come together and share hope.   Recently, her own sister passed away from cancer. She expresses: "I now have a whole new respect for all who volunteer and give care and time in the goal to find an end for this disease. I know how much of a difference the Look Good...Feel Better program makes to patients and I am glad to be a part of it."

Pat Garcia, Silicon Coastal Region: Pat Garcia made volunteerism a part of her life many years ago.  As a wife and mother of 2, she was active in school clubs, her local library, and she was a 4-H leader for over 8 years on a local and county level. In 1984, two of Pat's close friends were diagnosed with cancer and she found herself at the Santa Cruz office of the American Cancer Society.  She was not only asking for information, she also asked if they needed a volunteer.  During the next few years Pat was an office volunteer, a fundraising volunteer, and she served as the Secretary of the local board.  In 1991 she became involved with Look Good...Feel Better, and she continues to be inspired by the courageous women she meets.  Pat is also inspired the progress the American Cancer Society has made both in research and in educational programs.  She has shared information about Look Good...Feel Better with many audiences, utilizing her involvement with Toastmasters International to spread her message.

Seeing people touched by cancer, Pat is motivated to live a healthy lifestyle and support the American Cancer Society.  In her free time, Pat enjoys the outdoors, reading, and kayaking. 

Shirley Canter, Los Angeles Region: Shirley Canter began volunteering at USC Norris Cancer Center in Los Angeles even before she was formally trained as a Look Good...Feel Better volunteer.  Since September of 1998, she has been a certified Look Good...Feel Better volunteer, and she has enjoyed every minute of her experience.  She expresses that "it's hard to put into words the feelings you take away from these classes.  I have done many classes and get so many positive feelings from all the beautiful ladies I have taught." 

Shirley has enjoyed being the Area Trainer for the Los Angeles area primarily because she is helping other volunteers get off to a good start with the program.  Having lost her husband to brain cancer 20 years ago, she explains that she "understands a little of both sides." When she's not busy leading LGFB classes and training LGFB facilitators, Shirley enjoys working, helping others, many hobbies, and enjoying life as it comes.

Lisa Ann Foley, Orange County Region: Lisa Ann Foley has been a Look Good...Feel Better volunteer since 2007.  Cancer has touched many of her loved ones, and she wanted to volunteer in a capacity where she could make a difference in someone's life.  Look Good...Feel Better was a great fit since she could absolutely make that difference as well as apply her skills in skincare and make-up application.  She started as a LGFB facilitator and after demonstrating great enthusiasm and skill with the program, she was asked to become an Area Trainer one year later.  Lisa is now the Area Trainer for the Orange County Area.

Lisa explains that she is passionate about all areas of the program.  From facilitating two hour sessions to training other volunteers, she gives her all.  "Every class is unique, and no words can describe the feeling of self-fulfillment that I get when I see the women transformed when they leave the session."  Lisa considers it a privilege to be part of the Look Good...Feel Better program.

Ramona Gamache, Border Sierra Region: Ramona Gamache has been in the beauty industry for over 30 years, and she's been involved with the Look Good...Feel Better Program since 1999.  Ramona found that helping women through their cancer journey was a tremendously rewarding experience. Ramona explains that she sees the program making a difference for women not only through their cancer treatment but throughout their entire lives. Seeing the difference she was able to make in the lives of women motivated her to give more to the program, and she enthusiastically became an Area Trainer.  Ramona is the Area Trainer for the Border Sierra Region.

Ramona is also particularly passionate about program promotion, wanting as many people as possible to know about Look Good...Feel Better.  She is consistently encouraging her colleagues to join the program, and she finds that volunteer recruitment as well as volunteer training are also greatly rewarding.

Donna Dozzier, Great Valley Region: Donna Dozier has been involved with the Look Good...Feel Better program for over 18 years.  She feels "amazingly lucky" to have been selected to be the Great Valley Area Trainer three years ago. Donna became involved with the American Cancer Society because she had many friends and family who were struggling with cancer.  "Seeing what this terrible disease does to a person and their loved ones led me to want to be more active with the American Cancer Society."

Donna spent 30 years as a professional hair stylist and still styles hair part time, but in addition she works at Yosemite National Park, where she enjoys getting to meet visitors from around the world. With their two grown children out of the house, Donna and her husband enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, gardening and spending as much time possible outdoors in their beautiful Sierra Mountains.