Charity hits the road in travelling shipping container

30 November 2015

Charity’s mobile shipping container workshop to help people with cancer

A Kiwi charity is hitting the road in a specially modified shipping container to reach more New Zealanders who are living with the gruelling side effects of cancer treatment.

Look Good Feel Better provides free workshops for people with any type of cancer and will use the container as a mobile base for free Feel Better classes in areas of the country they have not previously been able to support.

The 40 foot container – named Look Good Feel Better On the Move – has been decorated with the charities trademark butterflies and modified inside to accommodate workshop participants with the addition of comfy couches, tables and chairs, storage, and floor to ceiling mirrors.

The workshops are an occasion for participants to feel like a person, not a patient, and claim back their identity – while getting practical tips to combat the ongoing visual and emotional effects of therapy.

Look Good Feel Better wanted to have the opportunity to run pop up classes and the LGFB On the Move project has been made possible by a collective of companies coming together to get the container on the road.

Mazda has made a $10,000 contribution, shipping container specialists Royal Wolf painted and fitted out the container, Farmers provided furnishings and set up materials, and Sistema Plastics donated hundreds of storage boxes. BP Oil and Mitre 10 have also contributed significantly to the project.

Look Good Feel Better’s General Manager Clare O’Higgins says the travelling container concept is not only unique but perfectly suited to the nationwide workshops LGFB run.

“We sometimes struggle to find suitable venues to do our classes, or set classes up in areas without trained tutors or volunteers, but with the container fitted out just the way we want it, it provides the perfect environment for people to come in, relax, and take part in the classes.”

LGFB On the Move was launched on 28 November at Walking Stars, New Zealand’s night-time walking half marathon which is a fundraising event for Cancer Research and cancer services.

The container starts its journey next year in the South Island in March and makes its way around the country ending up in Auckland during July for Feel Better Month, the charities annual awareness and fundraising campaign.

“We’re so appreciative of all these wonderful companies coming together to support the service we provide to cancer patients in the community. Without these companies the LGFB On the Move project wouldn’t be possible.

“The ability to get closer to communities not currently able to run classes in the region is very special. It is humbling to have such support from these organisations to realise the desire to take the classes on the road for cancer patients.

“And as long as New Zealanders continue to suffer the physical side effects of cancer treatment, Look Good Feel Better will be there to help bring back a sense of normality and control during a time when diagnosis and treatment have taken over their lives.”

Andrew Clearwater, Mazda NZ Managing Director, says Mazda feels very fortunate to assist such a wonderful charity who help people living with cancer across New Zealand.

“We have worked with Look Good Feel Better for a number of years now and to see our concept come to life is astonishing. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the other companies who have come on board to help this truly deserving charity, and we are looking forward to seeing it on the road next year.”

Audrey Galbraith, Royal Wolf Operations Manager – New Zealand, says the company is always looking for ways to give something back to the community and helping out a charity like Look Good Feel Better has been a fantastic opportunity.

“We’re in the business of modifying containers to meet our customer’s unique needs, but we’ve never created a mobile makeover workshop space before. Look Good Feel Better do such great things in the community and to be able to provide a comfortable and homely space for them to run their classes is a privilege.”

Rod McDermott Farmers CEO and Managing Director says Farmers has been a proud supporter of Look Good Feel Better over many years in a variety of ways.

“So it was a natural extension of Farmers support for the charity to get behind the mobile workshops. We came on board with LGFB because we are passionate about supporting families in our community in general, as well as being there for families along their cancer journey.”

Sistema Plastics donated boxes that will be used to transport, and help easily organise, makeup and skincare products inside the container. The company also supplied plastic “beautifying kits” to the volunteer beauty experts who help out with the workshops.

Sistema Plastics Director Wendell Phillips says the company is proud to help out with such an inspiring initiative.

“It is humbling to see all the work being done by the Look Good Feel Better team, and we feel very privileged to help out. It’s fantastic to see our products being put to good use and helping those who need it the most.”

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