Page 7 - YMCA of the Suncoast 2023 Annual Report

INSPIRING IMPACT
The YMCA of the Suncoast is where community members work towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle with a focus on spirit, mind and body. Our YMCAs are places for cancer survivors to connect and challenge themselves physically and create a sense of belonging.
In 2023, the YMCA partnered with Moffitt Cancer Center to provide pickleball for cancer survivors at the Greater Palm Harbor YMCA, called “Project Rally.” Jackie Rowe is a current participant thriving in our Project Rally program. She is
76 years old and has faced significant health challenges. In 2019, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma, a rare and treatable yet incurable blood cancer. Jackie then embarked on a daunting journey. Misunderstanding her diagnosis initially, she underwent five months
of chemotherapy starting in May of that year, followed by a stem cell transplant in December. Recovery took three months, after which the COVID-19 pandemic further isolated Jackie.
By late 2022, she started venturing out, engaging in activities like playing bridge in St. Petersburg. Early the following year, while driving back
to her home in Clearwater, she experienced difficulties in seeing the cars ahead, which led
to a diagnosis of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis, another rare autoimmune disorder. Amidst these challenges, Jackie has been an active participant in Multiple Myeloma support groups, where
the emphasis on increasing physical activity
Jackie Rowe
Cancer Survivor/ PIckleball Player
resonated with her. Inspired to try pickleball,
a sport Jackie read about and felt could revive
her old racquet sports enthusiasm, she faced initial setbacks in finding a welcoming facility for beginners. However, a turning point came in early December 2023 when Jackie discovered Project Rally through a Moffitt Cancer Center brochure, highlighting a partnership with the YMCA of the Suncoast. Conversations with Alex Cerqueira,
the YMCA Project Rally Coordinator and Dr. Nate Parker from Moffitt led to Jackie’s participation
in a study tailored for individuals just like her. Since starting the classes in 2024, she has felt embraced by a community of cancer survivors and their supporters.
Pickleball has not only introduced Jackie to a new sport but also to a group of empathetic individuals, making the experience incredibly fulfilling. The collective focus on activity, strength, social interaction, and enjoyment has enriched Jackie’s life, fostering a newfound commitment to regular workouts at the YMCA.
2023 IMPACT SNAPSHOT
99,600
Children, teens, adults, senior citizens, cancer survivors, chronically ill community members, at-risk youth, infants and toddlers across four counties were supported and guided to achieve greater health and well-being for their spirit, mind and body at the Y.
23,932
Group exercise classes supported and guided community members to achieve greater health and wellness.
1,278
People improved their quality of life through our community-integrated health programs like arthritis management, cancer survivor wellness and diabetes prevention.
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