Making Monday Better by helping women in Cambodia [by Canadian volunteers]

June 11, 2012 

The Calgary Herald

Lotus flowers in Siem Reap. Photo, Calgary Herald Archive.

They say it’s better to give than receive. If that’s the case, then here’s a chance for Calgary women to make their Monday better by giving to other women – in Cambodia.

On June 14, Compassionate Beauty is hosting an event called Mastectomy Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the company, it’s a Calgary-based mastectomy store, wig salon, and oncology spa, providing plenty of support and compassion – as well as some great beauty services – for women receiving cancer treatment.

Jessica Murphy, who’s organizing the event, says it will be a fun and informative day for their clients, but it’s also a chance for them to help Cambodian women in their battle against cancer.

Murphy recently visited the country, and she says Cambodia is experiencing a sharp increase in breast and cervical cancers. As it’s now rolling out its first screening program, more women are likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage and will require products and services during their course of treatment. And since many of them won’t be able to afford those products or services, this is where Calgary women can help out.

Simply drop off your old mastectomy products – like bras or breast forms – at Compassionate Beauty, 22 Richard Way S.W., on June 14. Those items will be donated to the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh, which has been identified by Compassionate Beauty as a reputable organization, providing the only breast cancer screening, diagnosis, education, training and treatment services free-of-charge in Cambodia.

“The need, not specifically of women with breast cancer but the entire population, was really evident to me,” says Murphy. “It’s one of the poorest countries in the world.

“So we’re just interested in donating some things to help relieve some of the (financial) pressure from the hospital and the citizens. And I think people will really feel the impact of their donations.”

Go to compassionatebeauty.com to find out more about how you can help or, alternatively, how they can help you.

Angkor Wat. Photo, Calgary Herald Archive.