Moffitt and YMCA of the Suncoast Team Up to Improve Wellness Among Cancer Survivors
TAMPA and CLEARWATER, Fla. — Moffitt Cancer Center and the YMCA of the Suncoast are partnering to improve health and wellness among cancer survivors and their families. Moffitt is the new sponsor of YMCA of the Suncoast’s cancer survivorship program. Together, the two organizations will work to enhance and expand the 12-week wellness program to offer more benefits to its participants.
The YMCA Survivorship & Wellness Program Powered by Moffitt provides two sessions a week that are facilitated by YMCA-certified instructors who focus on improving cardiovascular conditioning, strength, balance and flexibility. Survivors can enroll in the program at any of the seven YMCA of the Suncoast locations in Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus counties. There is no cost to join the 12-week program, which includes a three-month membership to the YMCA. The program’s first group will start in June. Interested participants can contact their local Suncoast YMCA location.
“The YMCA of the Suncoast is committed to putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. This new cancer survivorship partnership does just that. We are eager to serve even more individuals going from active cancer treatment to longer-term survivorship with the help of Moffitt’s dedicated team and evidence-based interventions,” said G. Scott Goyer, CEO & President of the YMCA of the Suncoast.
“Moffitt is focused on the health and well-being of our community and our patients and their families. Our relationship with the YMCA of the Suncoast will allow us to maximize our impact and improve the lives of cancer survivors,” said John Cleveland, Ph.D., Moffitt center director and chief scientific officer.
This partnership highlights Moffitt’s commitment to providing cancer prevention, research, education and outreach to our local communities. The Support for Community Organization Research Engagement (SCORE) initiative — which is part of Moffitt’s Office of Community Outreach, Engagement and Equity led by Susan T. Vadaparampil, Ph.D. — is supporting this work with the YMCA of the Suncoast.
“We are excited about our new relationship with the YMCA of the Suncoast because we have made a strong mutual commitment to work together to continually evolve and improve the program. This partnership will create an incredible opportunity to provide the latest Moffitt-developed evidence-based interventions and information to members of the program, and to collaborate on research projects that are specifically designed to improve the program and reduce health disparities throughout our community,” said Jennifer I. Vidrine, Ph.D., assistant center director for Research Community Partnerships at Moffitt and leader of the SCORE initiative.
One such research collaboration is Project Rally, led by Nathan Parker, Ph.D., in partnership with YMCA of the Suncoast. Project Rally is a pickleball program for cancer survivors and their families and friends. Physical activity improves cancer treatment outcomes and enhances quality of life, which is important for survivorship. Unfortunately, more than half of cancer survivors fail to meet aerobic activity guidelines. Project Rally will allow Moffitt to analyze whether a pickleball program can meaningfully increase levels of physical activity among survivors and contribute to improving their overall health and wellness.
“As our partnership grows, we expect to offer additional research opportunities for survivorship program participants, including studies aimed at improving physical strength, reducing fatigue, and enhancing diet and nutrition,” Vidrine said.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 54 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 8,500 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About the YMCA of the Suncoast
As a leading 4-star charity committed to strengthening community, the Y is a cause-driven, charitable organization that stands for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We serve more than 100,000 men, women, and children through seven branch locations and 52 before and after school sites in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. For over 62 years, the YMCA of the Suncoast has been an integral part of the communities we serve to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit www.ymcasuncoast.org.
