William Burks, Keisha Pittman, Marcia Powell, Ashton Caton, Cindy Velotta, Lenee Rountree, Joni Cline
Adult cancer surviors graduated Saturday from the first ever LIVESTRONG at the YMCA session at Northwest Arkansas Mercy Family YMCA.
Participants shared stories of challenges and success from their journey through the program.
“For me probably the greatest thing I’ve realized going through this program is that it’s okay to be in pain and it’s not going to kill me and I hurt for a few days, but I can keep going and not quit,” said Joni Cline.
Another participant expressed her outlook on life after her completion of the program.
“For me being 30 and being five years out from treatment, there’s a lot of life ahead of me, and to be able to do what I want to do with life and live as long as I want to live, I have to take care of me,” said Keisha Pittman.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a 12-week, small group program designed for adult cancer survivors. This program 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.”
Participants worked with trained Y staff to build muscle mass and strength, increase flexibility and endurance and improve functional ability.
In addition to physical benefits, the program also focused on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families by providing a supportive community environment where people affected by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond.
For more information about the program, please contact Ashton Caton, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA project manager 479.273.9622.
About LIVESTRONG/Lance Armstrong Foundation
LIVESTRONG serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death. Created as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the organization is now known publicly by its powerful brand — LIVESTRONG — and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Known for its iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to people affected by cancer around the world. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $400 million for the fight against cancer. For more information, visit www.LIVESTRONG.org.
About the Y
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net
About Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas
Mercy Northwest Arkansas employs 1,500 people. It includes the 165-bed Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Ambulatory Surgery Center in Bentonville, and 27 Mercy Clinic locations within the Northwest Arkansas region; Bella Vista, Bentonville, Centerton, Lowell, Rogers and Noel, Mo. Mercy employs more than 120 integrated providers across Northwest Arkansas. Effective April 30, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and its Clinics became Mercy Northwest Arkansas. Mercy Northwest Arkansas is part of Mercy of St.Louis, Mo. – the nation’s eighth largest Catholic health care organization. For more information, visit www.mercy.net/nwa.