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By Emily Hyser
Cancer is terrible.
It really is. Most people know someone whose lives have been affected by their fight with cancer—even if it’s themselves.
In fact, there’s an estimated 18.1 million cancer survivors in the U.S., accounting for nearly 6% of our population. This is expected to jump to 24.4% (22.5 million people) by 2032.
At the YMCA of the Roses, we strive to provide wellness opportunities for every our community, offering a variety of programs that improve quality of life for individuals living with chronic health conditions.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA offers cancer survivors a chance to improve their overall wellness and build a community of support.
LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA
Since 2007, LIVESTRONG has partnered with YMCA of the USA to provide a 12-week physical activity program designed to get survivors back to their best.
1 in 4 cancer survivors report long-term physical problems and 1 in 10 survivors report significant emotional problems. In both instances, their quality of life has been negatively affected.
Yale University and Dana Farber Cancer Institute studied how the program affected its participants. They found that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA graduates improved significantly in the areas of physical activity and quality of life.
But you don’t have to take it from me… You can take it from Karen.
KAREN'S STORY
In 2017, Karen was celebrating her birthday—just after she moved from Baltimore, MD to York, PA—but the festivities were short lived. Soon after, she was diagnosed with cancer, and her life seemed to have changed overnight.
She couldn’t believe it. Cancer wasn’t supposed to be part of her story. She never thought she was going to be a “cancer person.”
To make matters worse, as she was fighting her own fight against the disease, her brother died of cancer in 2018. She had already felt weak and scared—but now—she felt alone, too.
When all hope seemed lost, she saw a flyer for a free program she had never heard of before—LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. Karen had noticed this flyer at her doctor’s office after yet another visit, and reluctantly, she signed up.
What was originally just a way for her to get in shape and work with trainers turned into so much more, and Karen’s life has never been the same.
Professional instructors and fellow cancer survivors welcomed Karen into the program, giving her the love and nurturing support she needed to reclaim her health. She became stronger. She learned how to live with a disease that she didn’t ask for—and now—she no longer has to sit at home wondering what’s next.
She now knows—not only how to survive—but how to thrive.
Karen with her daughter at the YMCA’s annual LIVESTRONG at the YMCA gala in 2019!
A SECOND CHANCE
Not everyone is as lucky as Karen.
There’re thousands of people who will have to face life’s challenges alone. When people—like our donors, members, and staff—do what they can for people like Karen, we build community, comradery, and opportunity. With your help, we build second chances.
You’re the difference between Karen being sick inside a lonely doctor’s office and being welcomed into a home full of people who genuinely love her and are determined to see her succeed. Thank you.
