Kudos to everyone at the Anytime Fitness gym in Traverse City, MI for their efforts to help others during and after cancer treatments. Personal trainer Annemarie Wigton co-founded “The Journey Program,” a free 10-week exercise class for cancer patients and survivors within two years of diagnosis. Participants undergo an hour-long assessment before the program to craft a personalized exercise program based on their treatment history and tests in core and grip strength, range of motion, balance, endurance and stamina. The goal is to decrease pain, depression and anxiety and build strength, confidence and comfort in the gym for those in remission.
“A group will come in scared and not knowing to expect, but by the end they’re all laughing, talking and comparing notes,” said Jean Mahoney, the program’s other co-founder. “They end up helping each other. When you’ve got other people sharing this journey, it’s easier.”