Cancer Well-Fit Program at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara

Funds raised through the 2009 Triathlon will enable the internationally-recognized Cancer Well-Fit Program to continue to be offered at no cost to cancer patients and survivors in Santa Barbara County.

Fighting Cancer with Exercise: One Woman’s Story
Back in 1993, when local resident Julie Main was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36, it simply did not occur to her to stop working out. Despite Main’s vigorous schedule, she handled her chemotherapy treatments surprisingly well. So well, in fact, her medical oncologist, Dr. Fred Kass, wanted to know what she was doing that his other patients weren’t. After a closer look, her medical team concluded what Main herself strongly believed: exercise had made the difference.

Less than a year after her diagnosis, Julie Main managed to turn her breast cancer diagnosis into a positive community effort, helping launch the Cancer Well-Fit Program at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club in collaboration with the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. What started as a pilot program fifteen years ago has blossomed into an internationally-recognized cancer exercise rehabilitation program.

Giving Cancer Survivors the Best Possible Edge in Recovery
The Cancer Well-Fit Program is a uniquely-designed small group exercise program for people who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their cancer treatment and/or disease. Participants meet twice a week for ten weeks in a supervised group format with the combined goals of 1) building muscle mass and strength, 2) increasing flexibility and improving functional ability, 3) reducing the severity of therapy side effects, preventing unwanted weight changes, and improving energy levels and self-esteem and 4) developing each patients physical fitness program so they can continue to practice a healthy lifestyle as a way of life.

Support Julie’s Legacy
Tragically, Julie Main lost her long battle with cancer this May. Her legacy, however, will continue through the Cancer Well-Fit Program she helped to create. To meet keep up with local demand, fourteen Well-Fit groups are now held each year in the Santa Barbara community. Sites include the Santa Barbara Athletic Club, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, and Walnut Pier Health Club in Lompoc. Over 1,500 local cancer survivors have participated in the program since its inception. The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara covers 100% of the costs of the programs at each site so that patients can participate in Well-Fit at no charge.

Put simply, exercise helps cancer survivors get their lives back. Your donation will help the Cancer Well-Fit Program continue to offer their invaluable services to our community.