Tag Archives: LIVESTRONG

Fond du Lac Family YMCA Facility Improvements set to start in June

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The Fond du Lac Family YMCA plans a June construction start on a renovation to its facility that will add a Healthy Living Center, include a larger expanded fitness studio suite, as well as men’s and women’s locker room changes and security upgrades.  The YMCA is currently fundraising for the improvement project.

The Fond du Lac Family YMCA opened it’s new facility in 2010, and even at that time a need was foreseen for an eventual expansion, said Executive Director/CEO Greg Giles. Through expanded Healthy Living programs and increased group fitness class sizes, additional meeting rooms and larger fitness studios emerged as priorities.

The current Virtual Family Fitness Studio, located near the Welcome Center desk at the Y, is being renovated as the new “Healthy Living Center.”  This area will address the need for a specialized space for programs offered at the Y, such as the Livestrong at the YMCA class and the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program.  The Y’s impact on participants who take part in these programs is evident.  “It’s really important that we have enough dedicated space for our Healthy Living Programs, to offer a comfortable meeting area that fosters learning, friendship and support,” said M.J. Neumann, Healthy Living Director at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA.

Giles said the Y is seeking to continually meet the needs of younger families in the millennial generation.  That means, for example, new smartphone apps and group fitness classes that are cutting edge, with the latest and greatest fitness equipment.  “We’re at one of those key periods now for the YMCA to stay modern and relevant,” he said.  The planned improvements in the lower level of the Fond du Lac Family YMCA include an expanded Studio A, a larger new group cycling studio, and a new studio offering personal training and small group training.  Virtual fitness classes will be moved from the main level to the lower level suite of studios, and will be available again in the fall.

“We’re about serving community needs, and in partnership with Agnesian HealthCare and Aurora Health Care, we are receiving monthly referrals to our programs,” Giles said of the Y’s healthy living programs.  “Improving our communities health and well-being is more important than ever.  Providing opportunities for physical activity, addressing chronic disease and nutrition education is fundamental to our approach.”

The facility improvements will be complete by early fall.  Multiple areas of the facility will be affected throughout the summer.  There will be continual updates and communication to members throughout the summer, so they stay up to date with the progress and facility changes as they occur.

Fond du Lac Family YMCA announces LIVESTRONG at the YMCA instructor team

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The Fond du Lac Family YMCA announces its new LIVESTRONG at the YMCA team of instructors.  LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is an evidence-based program based on best practices for cancer survivor exercise. The goals of the program are to empower adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase their quality of life through an organized program of fitness and strength, offered in a supportive, small-group setting.  This 12-week physical activity and well-being initiative helps people affected by cancer reach their holistic health goals.

The Fond du Lac Family YMCA launched its LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program on  February 16,  2016.  The team of instructors is led by Alexandria Berg, Chronic Disease Prevention Coordinator, and includes Natalie Hall, Ali Harasha, Cheyenne Malterer, Josh Mathwig and Amelia Mirsberger.  Hall has been with the Y for 3 years and holds current roles as Wellness Coach and as an instructor for the Y’s Parkinson Exercise class.  Harasha has been in her current role at the Y for 1 year as the Sports and Fitness Coordinator, where she oversees Youth Sports and Personal Training.  Malterer has been in her current role at the Y for 3 years as Marketing Assistant.  Mathwig has been at the Y almost 3 years in his role as Wellness Coach.  They will all be adding their new LIVESTRONG instructor roles to their current positions.  Mirsberger is new to the Y  in her role as LIVESTRONG instructor.  She has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Marian University.

Fond du Lac Family YMCA Selected to Receive LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA Implementation Grant

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Initiative designed to improve quality of life for cancer survivors and their families to launch February 2016 in Fond du Lac.

The Fond du Lac Family YMCA will become a provider of the nationally recognized LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program thanks to an implementation grant from YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the Y’s national resource office, in partnership with the LIVESTRONG® Foundation. Launching in February 2016, the 12-week physical activity and well-being initiative helps people affected by cancer reach their holistic health goals. Additionally, programs like LIVESTRONG at the YMCA are part of the Y’s overall commitment to help cancer survivors recover in a safe and supportive environment.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is an evidence-based program based on best practices for cancer survivor exercise. The goals of the program are to empower adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase their quality of life through an organized program of fitness and strength offered in a supportive, small-group setting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 14 million people in the U.S. today are cancer survivors – those living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Historically, health care providers instructed cancer patients to rest and avoid activity or exertion, but studies now demonstrate the importance of physical activity for cancer survivors.

 “Research shows exercise is the simplest way for cancer survivors to reduce fatigue, improve their mood and bounce back more quickly from the debilitating effects of cancer treatment,” said Chandini Portteus, President and CEO of the LIVESTRONG® Foundation. “The Y is the perfect collaborator for the program because of its national reach, commitment to meeting the needs of all community members and history of program innovation in support of health and wellness.  Through our partnership, we’ve now been able to widely expand the program into more than 450 cities throughout the country to ensure survivors have access.”

The Fond du Lac Family YMCA is one of 21 Ys in the U.S. to receive a 2015 LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Implementation Grant from Y-USA in partnership with the LIVESTRONG® Foundation. This grant will help with the initial program training and implementation while the Fond du Lac Family YMCA will be responsible for raising the balance of funds required to sustain these efforts and offer the 12-week exercise program free of charge to survivors.

“We are honored to bring LIVESTRONG at the YMCA to Fond du Lac and share the passion of the LIVESTRONG® Foundation for inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer. We look forward to working together to make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors and their families,” said Alexandria Berg, Chronic Disease Prevention Coordinator and LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Program Coordinator, Fond du Lac Family YMCA. “Additionally, as the leading community-based network committed to improving the nation’s health, offering programs like LIVESTRONG at the YMCA also enables us to build organizational capacity and infrastructure to help better serve cancer survivors.”

The Fond du Lac Family YMCA is enrolling participants beginning January 25th for the pilot program, which starts February 16th, as well as future programs.  Adult cancer survivors interested in participating in the program may fill out a LIVESTRONG participant interest form, found on the Y’s website at fdlymca.org.  A form may also be picked up at the Y welcome center desk during business hours.  For more information about the program, visit fdlymca.org/livestrong-at-the-ymca.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is made possible by a cooperative agreement between Y-USA and the LIVESTRONG® Foundation, which seeks to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Launched in 2008, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is designed to improve the health and day-to-day quality of life for the country’s growing population of cancer survivors and their families. To date, more than 30,000 cancer survivors have participated in the program nationwide.