Lincolnshire, Ill. – American Cancer Society volunteer Sarene Cordova of Buffalo Grove was awarded the organization’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award for Service to Patients by the Illinois Division’s Lake County Regional Office.
Cordova volunteers for the Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program which offers female cancer patients the opportunity to learn how to combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer. The program lasts two hours and is very comprehensive. A licensed cosmetologist, Cordova has led over 30 sessions at several Lake County hospitals and helped over 100 local women through these classes.
During her five years as a volunteer, Cordova has consistently gone above and beyond to help patients. When the Lake County Regional Office needed a volunteer to help with its growing free wig program, Cordova volunteered her time twice a month to meet with women and fit them for wigs and/or bras and prosthetics. She will also cut and style a wig to reach the woman’s desired style and in some cases has shaved the woman’s head in the comfort and privacy of the Society’s local patient services room. Cordova’s dedication extends to even traveling to meet patients who find the drive to Lincolnshire too exhausting while undergoing treatment.
“Sarene has a way of connecting with the women she meets and making them feel comfortable and safe,” said Carol Ruderman, Regional Director for the Lake County Region of the American Cancer Society. “One patient she helped wrote: ‘You and the American Cancer Society are helping make this time easier for all of us. We hope you know how much you are appreciated.’”
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force with more than 100,000 volunteers in Illinois and millions elsewhere, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more or get help, call us any time at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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