Livestrong at the YMCA
Date active: 2007-present

Livestrong at the YMCA

We partner with the YMCA of the USA to promote the importance of physical activity after a cancer diagnosis.

Our ongoing conversations with cancer survivors told us that a top concern among survivors is the difficulty of returning to physical activity after treatment. We wanted to change that. In 2007 we partnered with the YMCA of the USA to create Livestrong at the YMCA, a 12-week physical activity program designed to get survivors back on their feet.

We worked with researchers from Yale University and Dana Farber Cancer Institute to conduct a research study on the impact of the program on participants’ cancer-related outcomes. We found that participants experienced significant increases in physical activity, overall quality of life and fitness performance as well as decreases in cancer-related fatigue. Join a program today!

Covid-19 Information

In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, many YMCA’s suspended in-person operations and Livestrong at the YMCA classes were paused. To find out if the YMCA near you has resumed classes or is offering an online experience, please use the search tool and contact the branch directly.

How does the program work?

Survivors participate in free or low-cost customized exercise regimens catered to their individual needs from certified fitness instructors. The instructors are trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise and supportive cancer care. Survivors and often their families receive a membership at the YMCA for the duration of the program. The program is offered for free or low-cost at the discretion of each YMCA location.

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Help Support Programs Like These

Donate to Livestrong and know that your donation will make a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer. Eighty-three cents of every dollar goes directly to our free services for cancer survivors and their loved ones.