BY JOHN HANC
Special to Newsday
Strength for Life, an exercise
program for cancer
patients, was created in
response to the death of a
mentor.
A little more than a decade ago,
Jacqui Errico and Debbie Hughes
were working as personal trainers
for Evelyn Knapp, the Bay Shorebased
co-founder of Personal
Training Institute, a chain of oneon-one
training studios. When
Knapp was diagnosed with breast
cancer, Errico recalls, “it took
everyone off guard. She was the
epitome of fitness when you
looked at her.”
Knapp continued to train
through her treatment. “She said it
was the only thing that gave her a
sense of control in a situation that
was out of control,” Errico recalls.
Knapp also obtained one of the
first certifications then available
for fitness professionals in dealing
with cancer patients. “At the time,
the attitude was still bed rest was
best,” Errico said. “She wanted us
all to learn how to train cancer
patients.”
SPECIAL CERTIFICATION
When Knapp died in 2005, at
age 40, Errico and Hughes followed
through on her wishes and
earned specialized certification in
training cancer patients. They also
went out and delivered the message,
speaking to local support
groups about the benefits of physical
activity to those battling the
disease. What they found was an
interest but a lack of opportunities,
so the two trainers began
holding regular hourlong strengthtraining
programs geared to cancer
patients. They started in a
basement, moved to a Curves in
St. James and then to Stony Brook
University Hospital. Now they
offer weekly classes at seven
locations in Nassau and Suffolk
(the eight-week winter program is
wrapping up this week; the spring
session starts in April).
The classes, which are free,
involve a half-hour of standing,
resistance-training movements —
using primarily resistance bands
— followed by 15 minutes of core
exercises and 15 minutes of
stretching.
In the eight years since the
program started, the number of
individuals in the program has
risen from a handful to a total of
about 50 in the seven winter classes.
Most of the participants are
women over age 50.
Meanwhile, views on exercise for
cancer patients have evolved. Research
suggests that cancer patients
who were physically active during
and after treatment had less fatigue
and nausea, improved blood flow
and an improved quality of life.
Now, the American Cancer Society
recommends physical activity for
patients (although there are, of
course, caveats, depending on the
type of cancer, treatment and health
ofthe person, so patients should
check with their oncologists before
starting any exercise program).
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Word is getting out about
Strength for Life. Michelle Steinberg
of Woodbury, 59, who was
diagnosed with Stage 3 breast
cancer in January 2014, saw a flier
for the program in her doctor’s
waiting room. “I was excited
about going,” says Steinberg. “I
was looking at it as another avenue
that could help.’ ”
She started in October, after her
treatment was complete, and has
been taking the classes weekly at
World Gym in Wantagh. Steinberg
likes the social environment
of the class and the value of interacting
with fellow patients and
with Errico.
“You’re with other people in
similar circumstances, so there’s an
automatic common bond,” she says.
“And you know there’s someone
there that’s trying to help you.”
For more information, strengthforlifeny.org
Thank you John Hanc!!!
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