"We are just this group of people who will never separate and what brought us together was just a fluke," says Terri Jones.
Strong 8, that's what this group calls itself. All cancer survivors, who are a part of the LIVESTRONG program at the Northside YMCA.
"This is a free program. It's not only for members, it's for anyone in the community. They come into the Y and embark on this 12-week journey with their fellow participants. It's a holistic, spiritual, mental and exercise-based program," comments Melissa Bellew.
Each person a different story but, now, all are united as one, as survivors. It's made them stronger physically and mentally.
"Whatever cancer you may have, this program will help you and it will help you to get strong because Chemo will break you down, will brake your body all the way down. Some mornings you can't get up, you can't walk, you can't sit, you can't stand. So you need this activity to get your muscles back. It's mental, emotional, I mean it's just a blessing. The family surrounding helps you," explains Shiela Lee.
And they may have only known each other a few weeks, but the friendships they've built will last a lifetime and they want others to join them.
"The bond we've created is unbelievable. The word sister has started to come out between several of us. We're looking for the eight of us to become hundreds and hopefully thousands here in Kentucky to grow and it will just be a community," says Jones.
The Northside YMCA is going to start another 12-week LIVESTRONG program on October 24th. The High Street and Beaumont YMCAs will also be adding the LIVESTRONG classes sometime this winter.
For more information, you can e-mail
livestrong@ymcaofcentralky.org or call Melissa Bellew @ (859)258-9622 ext. 14.
