A program at the Murray Valley Private Hospital that makes it possible has been recognised with a national award.

The Look Good ... Feel Better workshop, which provides beauty tips for women who are being treated for cancer, has been named the most successful program of 180 across the country.

The program has also won the state award for Victoria and Tasmania.

Volunteer co-ordinator Rosemary Creed said patients’ smiles kept her and her colleagues going.

“They come in for the workshop looking really pale and be feeling ill but after half an hour they are happy and interacting,” Ms Creed said.

The hospital has been holding the workshops for 10 years and Ms Creed said it had grown in recent times.

“We used to have only four workshops a year with six people attending,” she said.

“Now we have eight with about 14 at each.’

Leigh Leach, of Wod- onga, was diagnosed in April with breast cancer.

She said she had enjoyed her first workshop yesterday.

“I have two young boys and I want to keep positive for them,” she said.

“I have been able to socialise with other people who are going through the same thing.

“We are all in different stages of treatment so are able to offer each other advice.”

The Victoria-Tasmania program manager Faye Venning said the Border volunteers had demonstrated an impressive team effort.

The national award will be presented at a ball in Sydney on September 5.