Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood YMCA Celebrates 50th Graduating Class of Living Strong, Living Well Cancer Survivor Program
Graduation ceremony held June 16 at Ridgewood YMCA
On Thursday, June 16th, the Ridgewood YMCA celebrated its 50th graduating class of Living Strong, Living Well (LSLW), a strength and fitness program offered by the Y to cancer patients and survivors. The program began in 2008 and to date has touched the lives of over 400 participants. Developed by Stanford University, and partially funded through a grant from the Valley Hospital Foundation, LSLW is a 12-week small group class designed to build muscle mass and strength, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve functional ability. Unique benefits of this program include nutritional information, social and emotional support, and improved levels of energy and self-esteem.
“The LSLW program has greatly helped cancer survivors increase their strength, flexibility, and range of motion. But more importantly it has helped them recover. By meeting others with similar issues, they develop friendships and a new support system which helps them realize that they can overcome anything,” says Carol Livingstone, Health & Fitness Director at the Ridgewood YMCA. “They develop good exercise habits which gives them hope for a healthier future. And they find an inner strength they didn’t know they had by empowering them to do more than they thought they could when first starting the program.”
Amy Phillips, Director of Fund Development at the Ridgewood YMCA, said, “The Ridgewood Y is extremely grateful to the Valley Hospital Foundation for their steadfast support for this tremendously impactful program”.
Living Strong, Living Well is offered at no charge and each participant is given a free Three-Month Triangle Membership to the Ridgewood YMCA, which includes access to workout equipment, two pools, and fitness classes. The next session begins September 7, 2016.
For more information, contact Carol Livingstone at 201-444-5600, ex. 330 or visitwww.ridgewoodymca.org/lslw.
