October is Staystrong Month at the South Shore YMCA

At the South Shore YMCA, October is more than just a month. It is a movement. It is a time when the community comes together to lift those facing one of life’s most difficult battles: cancer. Through the Staystrong Cancer Support Program, the Y offers more than services, it offers strength, hope, and belonging.

Staystrong is a free community wellness support program for individuals diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment, as well as their families and caregivers. Thanks to generous donors, participants receive support and services such as a 12-month YMCA family membership, onsite babysitting, family-focused activities, community support, and even a free week of summer camp for their children. It is a wraparound initiative that meets people where they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and provides a sense of normalcy and reclaimed strength during a time of great uncertainty.

October, known as Staystrong Month, is when the heart of the program beats loudest.

Across the South Shore YMCA branches, featured fundraising fitness classes bring together survivors, supporters, and instructors in a celebration of life and resilience. These classes are more than workouts. They are tributes, fundraisers, and healing experiences that turn movement into medicine.

Emilson YMCA: Where Movement Honors Memory

• Staystrong Pound Fit with Ali Cash is a high-energy class held in memory of her daughter Olivia. With drumsticks in hand and music pulsing through the gym, participants channel their energy into movement and remembrance. The event includes raffle prizes and a vibrant community vibe that celebrates healing through rhythm.
• Country Line Dancing with Jenn Lloyd and Maureen Godding is a boot-stomping evening that begins with beginner lessons and flows into open dance under the stars. Jenn and Maureen lead with laughter and rhythm, creating a space where every step is a celebration of life and community.
• Yoga with Amber Gregory and Kerry Donnelly is held in memory of Stacey Cross Hugues who helped launch Staystrong. This session invites participants to breathe deeply, stretch gently, and connect spiritually. Kerry and Amber, a cancer survivor herself, guide the class through poses that honor resilience and promote inner peace. It is a moment of quiet strength in a month filled with movement.
• Aqua Fit with Annie Donovan is led by a two-time breast cancer survivor whose energy inspires every splash. Her class reminds us that healing can happen in waves. The pool becomes a place of empowerment, buoyed by Annie’s spirit and the support of the community.

Hale Family YMCA: Where Strength Meets Spirit

• Zumba with Arthur Lever and Emi Yoshida fills the Brigg’s Family Field House with music, movement, and magic. Their high-energy class is a celebration of life, designed to get hearts pumping and spirits soaring. It is so popular, it had to be moved to a larger space to accommodate the joy.
• Bodypump with Jen Christenson is a masterclass in motivation. With powerful music and expert instruction, participants push past limits and discover their inner strength. It is not just about lifting weights, it is about lifting each other up.
• Restorative Yoga with Alyssa Nelson is led by a former Staystrong participant whose journey adds a layer of authenticity and compassion to every pose. Participants leave feeling renewed, supported, and connected to a larger story of survival and hope.

Each class requests a minimum $30 donation, with all proceeds going directly to support the expansion of the Staystrong program. But the impact goes far beyond dollars. These classes are filled with laughter, tears, hugs, stories, and moments that remind us why community matters.

Volunteers play a vital role, staffing awareness tables, collecting donations, and helping visitors honor loved ones with memorial ribbons. Social media campaigns and Y Mission Moment emails share powerful stories of survival and support, amplifying the message: you are not alone.

The Staystrong logo—a triangle—symbolizes the survivor at the center, surrounded by the Y community, family and caregivers, and the medical experts who guide their journey. It is a visual reminder of the strength found in unity.

As we move through Staystrong Month, everyone is invited. Whether you join a class, volunteer, donate, or simply share a story, you become part of a movement that is changing lives in spirit, mind and body.

To learn more, visit ssymca.org/announcements/staystrong-month-at-the-south-shore-ymca.