Returning this fall for its third year, the Statesboro Family YMCA is excited to offer the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program. This free 12-week program for male and female adult cancer survivors, aims to help participants regain muscle mass and functional ability, as well as healthy levels of weight, energy and self-esteem. The program is developed and established in partnership with the LIVESTRONG® Foundation to assist those who are living with, though, or beyond cancer to strengthen their spirit, mind, and body.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is a small group, evidence-based program that creates a welcoming community in which cancer survivors can improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of the side effects of therapy, develop supportive relationships, and improve their quality of life. Survivors participate in customized exercise regimens designed for their individual needs from certified fitness instructors. The instructors are trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise, and supportive cancer care.
“Through the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program, I have seen so many participants find their new normal and accomplish goals that they did not think was possible”, says Hannah Beggs, Fitness and Membership Director. “I love leading this program because I get to help participants learn to strengthen their bodies through exercise and change their way of thinking.”
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program not only focuses on the physical benefits, but also focuses on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families. “After my cancer diagnosis and treatment, I believed that my body was broken,” says Jill Johns 2019 LIVESTRONG® Alumni. “I hesitated to push by body because I was afraid it would hurt. The LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA Program was exactly what I needed to ease myself back into exercise and an active lifestyle. The coaches and other participants were patient, supportive, and encouraging. They believed in me which helped me believe in myself. I feel like myself again and I am once again enjoying life’s adventures”.
LIVESTRONG® begins August 31st and will meet twice a week at the YMCA on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm until November 18th. There is no cost to participate in the program, and a current YMCA membership is not required to participate. After completing the 12-week program, participants will receive a complimentary 6-month YMCA membership.
For more information about LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA or to schedule an intake session, contact Hannah Beggs, at hannah.beggs@ymcaofcoastalga.org or call the Statesboro Family YMCA at (912) 225-1962.
