YMCA program to benefit cancer patients
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 6, 2018 5:50 AM
Goldsboro Family YMCA will be introducing an exercise program for current and former cancer patients in the fall.
"We just got a grant from YMCA of the U.S.A. to begin offering the Livestrong program for cancer patients," said Alice Huneycutt, health and wellness director for the Family Y.
Details will be announced, she added, while efforts at present are targeting training for instructors, which is what the grant is earmarked to cover.
"The Livestrong program is a 12-week program for folks who have or have had cancer," Huneycutt explained. "It is to get them back in shape, get people kind of moving again."
Its purpose is to help improve quality of life for those who have received a cancer diagnosis, added Vanessa Spiron, senior director of development.
"This is something we have wanted to bring to our Y for a long time," her said. "It gives us a chance to help people who are going through cancer, and to give back and really help those people.
""Everybody's affected by cancer in one way or another."
The spectrum of participants can range from those who formerly worked out in an exercise program to those who may be struggling to even walk a short distance.
The goal is to make the effort work for everybody who signs up.
"It will be a 12-week program, meeting twice a week, an hour and a half each time," Huneycutt explained. "There will be two instructors and the activities will vary every time.
"We'll have support group-style discussions. But the group really makes it what they want."
It will be versatile, she added, ranging from one-on-one training to participating in any of the classes offered at the Y.
There will be no cost for participants and the aim for the first session will be to max it out at 12 people.
Target date to start will likely be late August or early September, the women said.
The only requirement will be to produce a physician's note saying that the patient has been cleared to take part in such a program.
"They could be actively getting treatment or someone who has had cancer in the past," Huneycutt said.
Other aspects are being considered, such as partnering with local cancer physicians as well as those in the business community and others to help fund it as an ongoing effort.
"We say we've got a grant, but our grant covers the training cost," Spiron said. "It's not a large grant. It provides for training those leading the program but that's it."
The potential to expand such a program is great, with the possibility of offering a session every three months, or quarterly.
"It would be amazing to grow it and be able to offer it off-site as well, Huneycutt said. "It's something that if the community can really get behind it and we can get the right people in place, I can see this program becoming a huge thing in the community. That's what I'm hoping for, at least."
For more information, contact Huneycutt at alice.huneycutt@goldsboroymca.org.