The Long Island 2 Day Walk
is organized to raise awareness and funding for the fight against breast cancer
on Long Island. 100% of the donations raised by the participants are
distributed to grassroots service organizations so the funds reach the members
of the Long Island community affected by breast cancer.
In
2012 Strength for Life was
awarded a special grant from the LI2Day and decided to become a more active
participant in the 10 year anniversary event. The 35 mile walk will be held
June 8 - 9 beginning and ending at Smith Point County Park. The journeys of
these women are far more challenging than 35 miles, here is one of the many
incredible success stories.
"I
have been battling cancer for the past 10 years. I was first diagnosed in 2003
shortly after moving to Long Island from Queens. I had a bilateral mastectomy
and several lymph nodes removed. I chose not to do conventional methods against
the recommendations of the doctors. That is when I began my quest for
complementary and alternative treatments. I came across a variety of healing
modalities right here on Long Island along with many local non-profits that
offered support not only emotionally but financially as well. I owe so much to
these organizations here on Long Island. I wouldn't be where I am today without
them.
I
have had 2 local reoccurrences since my first diagnosis and I continue to get
the support from many of these local non-profit organizations. One grassroots
nonprofit that is near and dear to my heart is Strength for Life. I attended an
acupuncture support group which Strength for Life came to speak about their
organization. They explained the many benefits of exercise during and after a
cancer diagnosis and they went on to mention that they offered FREE exercise
classes and equipment as well as a FREE wellness weekend retreat right here on
Long Island. I immediately signed up and attended their first wellness retreat.
I was in awe at all they offered cancer patients and survivors. It included a
full day of all complementary healing modalities such as yoga, reiki, tai chi,
as well as a guest speaker on health and wellness specifically for cancer
patients. After that weekend I knew I wanted to be involved with Strength for
Life so I offered to come back to volunteer my services as a reiki practitioner
and the rest is history. I am now on the Board of Directors for Strength For
Life and I am happy to be paying it forward and helping other cancer survivors
get the information and help they deserve.
This
year Strength for Life signed me up for the Long Island 2 day and I am very
excited to help raise money for an organization that helps local non-profits
like SFL and others. I have never participated in any other breast cancer walk
in the past because I didn't feel comfortable with where the money I was
raising was going. When I was told about the Long Island 2 Day Walk for Breast
Cancer and where all the money goes I knew I had to commit. I am proud to say I
have passed my goal of raising $1000 and I look forward to the upcoming
weekend." ~ Teresa Doherty
As
you may know, Strength for Life was founded in memory of a friend and mentor,
Evelyn Knapp who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005 at 40 years old. As
an exercise physiologist, she spent her lifetime promoting exercise and proper
nutrition and her motivation and dedication helped countless individuals to
engage in a healthier lifestyle. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she
continued exercising throughout treatment. She would say it gave her a feeling
of control in an uncontrollable situation. From there she made a new commitment
to promote exercise for cancer patients so they, too, would experience the
benefits. In 2005 she lost her battle with breast cancer. However, her mission
was not lost. Our organization was formed in her memory so we may continue her
work and make her vision a reality.
With
the growth and expansion of recent studies supporting exercise as a treatment
therapy there are only a few qualified programs available for cancer
patients/survivors. What sets Strength for Life aside from other programs is
our decision to travel to the client by finding donated space, this has made
servicing Nassau and Suffolk County survivors possible and eliminates the
burden to travel from the survivor. Strength for Life has classes at Mather
Hospital, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Breast Cancer Help in Bay Shore, STARS
Rehabilitation in East Meadow and the Seaford United Methodist Church. We
continue to reach out to the survivors and find convenient locations to make
the classes as accessible as possible. We have determined that four survivors
in an area are sufficient for us to seek space and begin a class, knowing that
word of mouth will allow for growth.
There
is a true need for the cancer patient to exercise as shown in the 2010 American
College of Sports Medicine guidelines. The report reads that cancer
patients/survivors should “avoid inactivity”…since then there have been
numerous studies touting the benefit of adding an exercise program to the
treatment plan. With these increasing amount of sports medicine studies on
exercise and its effects on cancer fatigue, pain management, lymphedema, nausea
etc. lending credibility to using exercise as an integral part of the standard
of care for most cancer patients we have found many patients/survivors are
fearful to start a regime on their own.. Many Doctors have not even prescribed
physical therapy leaving the survivors to fend for themselves. And research
shows the effectiveness of exercise in reducing the risk of re-occurrence by
50–60% in breast and colon cancers, so survivors maybe learning they should
exercise but not “how to” exercise in a safe effective manner.
For
more information on Strength for Life please visit our website (www.strengthforlifeNY.org) ; call
631-675-6513 or email strengthforlife@optonline.net. Donations in support of the LI2Day can be
made to Team Strength for Life using
this link LI2Day.
Thank
you!
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