#349: A Special Opportunity for Bluegrass Cancer Fighters

I met today with Melissa Bellew, a personal trainer at the Lexington Northside Y on Louden Ave. They have a grant from LIVESTRONG to develop a program to help cancer survivors get back on their feet after treatment. I am participating. It's a chance to help build something that might be of value to cancer fighters like us for many years to come. Here's the text of her email, explaining the program... Pennsy

I have a unique privilege to frame the start-up or pilot program at the North Lexington Family
YMCA called "LIVESTRONG at the YMCA." This grant-funded program
provides a 12 week, FREE, exercise & personal care program for cancer
survivors, including a Y membership for the survivor's family during the
training & discounted rates thereafter. The program covers exercise,
holistic health, nutrition, group exercise classes, weights, yoga, pilates,
zumba, & other disciplines. This program's goal is to help survivors
regain health, thus increasing survival odds, and bridge the gap from
post-treatment to daily living.

The pilot program looms with a start date of July 11, with the possibility of a
week postponement to attain ten survivors for the pilot. After the pilot
& its subsequent tweaks, the 12 week program will remain on the Y's
programming schedule.

We have four participants to date & need more. If you know anyone who
might qualify for this program & would help us in the pilot by
participating & offering feedback, please send them my way. The class
will meet on Mondays & Wednesdays from 2pm - 3:30p. You can use my
email (mdbellew@hotmail.com) or call me at the Y at 859-258-9622.
Also, any callers could ask for Chris Andrews, North's Wellness Director, at
that same number. Please ask the caller to say that they are calling
about the "LIVESTRONG at the YMCA" program. I would need to
organize an intake interview & assist the person in getting some release
forms signed by doctors.

If you know a cancer survivor in the Lexington area, let them know about this program. If you live somewhere else, give your local Y a call. They may have a similar program in the works.

Peace,
Pennsy