THRIVE Cancer Wellness Grads Celebrate Wellness at 2025 Reunion Lunch

“When you have cancer and you're so sick, you just don't even trust your body anymore. You don't know whose body you're in, but it's not yours.” This is how Alice said she was feeling following intense treatment for esophageal cancer. She was addressing the nearly 30 attendees of this year’s annual THRIVE Cancer Wellness Pathway reunion lunch, held in the Teen Center at the Doylestown branch on May 21.

Alice joined the THRIVE program in 2023 at the Doylestown branch and said it was one of the best decisions she had ever made. “Cathy [Manning, THRIVE instructor] accepted me where I was, using a walker, scared to death to do anything without it, scared to do things with the walker. She pushed me a little, but was very kind and compassionate and empathetic in my struggles.

“When I walked into the program I was using a walker. When I walked out, I wasn’t anymore. I attribute that to the confidence Cathy enabled me to develop in myself and in my body again,” Alice shared proudly.

Alice was one of six THRIVE graduates who spoke at the reunion about their success in the program. The THRIVE Cancer Wellness Pathway program is a free, 12 week, donor supported holistic health and wellness program offered at branches throughout River Crossing YMCA. Designed for adults currently in treatment for cancer, or recovering from the effects of treatment, THRIVE compassionately helps participants incorporate exercise and wellness routines into their lives. The program focuses on slowly building strength, stamina and confidence at a time when the body is often weakened, if not depleted, by the rigors of treatment and recovery.

“I had a double mastectomy, and a bunch of lymph nodes removed, followed by 30 days of intense radiation,” shared Lynn, who participated in the THRIVE program in Fairless Hills. She said once she got back on her feet she felt the need to get back in shape but didn’t know where to start.

“I happened to be scrolling through Facebook and there is an ad for the YMCA Thrive program. It’s one of the best choices I have ever made, to meet all people that are in the same place that I once was, and understand what we're all going through and how much of an event it is just to do what we're doing.”

THRIVE Cancer Wellness, along with all of the free YMCA Pathway programs, are possible because of support from Cause members. Your recurring donation to River Crossing YMCA meant wellness and improved quality of life for over 2,000 Pathway program participants in 2024. Thank you.

For more information about our free, donor-supported Pathway health and wellness programs, please visit our webpage.