The Greater Scranton YMCA has always been a community-focused, wellness center.
This year, it will expand programming to offer cancer wellness programs to area residents adjusting to life after chemotherapy treatment.
There are about 2,600 YMCAs around the country. Only 30 of those, including the Greater Scranton Y, were chosen to add cancer wellness programs through grants from Livestrong, CEO Dan Albert said. The $10,000 grant will create the programs and provide training for two staff members at the local Y.
Mr. Albert has worked with the YMCA for 14 years, spending the last two at the Greater Scranton location, and he is excited about the upcoming changes.
"We had made a decision to look at wellness in a different light," he said.
He and the staff were getting ready to launch a diabetes program when the grant became available.
Though the training has not yet begun, he expects the new cancer program to begin in the fall.
The 12-week Livestrong at the YMCA programs will support adult cancer survivors as they move from treatment back to what the Livestrong website calls "the new normal" when patients and survivors return home.
"Exercise and programs are modified with understanding of what the body is experiencing," Mr. Albert said of chemotherapy. "They didn't want to have this wellness part of it in the hospital.
"It's great for the community to have this service provided," he added. "It sets the tone for the new direction of the Y."
Though the Greater Scranton YMCA has already secured the $10,000 grant, it could be awarded more money through the Livestrong Foundation if they garner enough votes in an online competition. Voting for the Community Impact Project is ongoing, Mr. Albert said. To vote for Greater Scranton, visit http://vote.livestrong.org/regions/6/186-Greater-Scranton-YMCA.
Whether or not they receive additional funding, Mr. Albert said the campaign will benefit community members by getting the word out about the new programming. Every vote is another person aware of the cancer wellness program, he said.
He also hopes that the YMCA will be able to work with community organizations to expand offerings.
"We'd love to have as many partners as we can," he said. "All of us together can do a whole lot more than just us. We want this to be a community program."
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter