LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA Cancer Recovery Program
The Summit and Berkeley Heights YMCAs are offering LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a free twelve-week, small group exercise and recovery program designed for adult cancer survivors. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA fulfills the important need of supporting the increasing number of cancer survivors who find themselves in the transitional period between completing their cancer treatment and the shift to feeling physically and emotionally strong enough to attempt to return to their normal life or their "new normal". The program is conducted outside of medical facilities to emphasize that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is about health, not disease. This is a free program, open to the community.
YMCA fitness instructors work with each participant to fit the program to their individual needs. The instructors are trained in the elements of cancer, post rehab exercise and supportive cancer care. Pre-registration and medical clearance are required.
The Summit Area YMCA is one of more than 115 Ys across the nation to have received initial and limited grant funding from the LIVESTRONG Foundation to deliver LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a health and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health and wellness goals. Since then our Summit YMCA and Berkeley Heights YMCA programs are funded wholly through the generosity of our donors, sponsors and through grants from foundations. To date, our Summit YMCA and Berkeley Heights YMCAs have partnered to heal and help more than 100 cancer survivors and their families. Nationwide, this number is 10,000.
The LIVESTRONG Foundation is greater than one individual and his actions. At the Summit Area YMCA, we are committed to supporting the millions of cancer survivors who have benefited from the free, small group sessions which help those struggling emotionally, mentally and physically with the disease. Participants work with specially trained Y staff to achieve goals such as building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, and improving confidence and self-esteem. In addition, the program focuses on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families by providing a supportive “community” where people impacted by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond.