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My overall health has greatly improved. My cardiac heath is significantly improved. My overall strength flexibility and mobility continue to improve.

In late March of 2018, I suffered a serious heart attack that resulted in 5 stents being placed in my right coronary artery. A great start to my recent retirement.
The resulting lifestyle change included cardiac rehabilitation, diet, and exercise. I tried utilizing workout facilities where I had a membership. I was not able to undertake the recommended exercises in what seemed to be an unsupervised environment for fear of having another heart attack.
I was told about PACE and I gave it a try. It is GREAT! The staff undertook an assessment of my flexibility, mobility, and taking into account my coronary health status, devised a workout program of cardio and resistance training. The program was designed considering the goal of being able to resume the certain physical activities that I enjoy prior to my heart attack. The very caring attentive staff and volunteers at PACE gave me the confidence undertake the cardiac rehabilitation exercises program.
I have been attending PACE since June of 2018. My overall health has greatly improved. My cardiac heath is significantly improved. My overall strength flexibility and mobility continue to improve. These improvements are the result of the exercise and stretching routines recommended and, revised on an on- going basis, by the engaged staff at PACE.
The staff at PACE are cheerful, attentive knowledgeable professionals. The student volunteers, who dedicate their time to the programs, are an integral part of the success of the PACE. Speaking with these young women and men ads to the overall experience and enjoyment of the time spent at the facility.
The McMaster Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at PACE is a huge contributing factor to my success in improving my overall health.
The overall atmosphere, the staff and the volunteers at PACE are big motivators in continuing to pursue the exercise program so important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

To this day I still visit clients both inside and outside the PACE on a regular basis as I truly do consider them friends.

My name is Andrew Mikhail and I’m a former volunteer and staff member at the PACE. My first experience with PACE was after my first year of undergrad when I began volunteering in the MacWheelers exercise program. I truly enjoyed my summer volunteering there, helping out the clients in a very friendly and supportive environments. I found myself wanting to be there more often and it didn’t feel like a “volunteering task” but more of a place where I can come socialize with clients while helping them follow their exercise programs. During my second year, I increased my volunteer shifts to 3-4 times per week where I got to know more of the lovely clients and previous staff. During May 2016, I had the honour of being hired as a staff member for the MSFITT and MacWheelers program. I can confidently say that it was my favourite employment. Aside from building on my friendships with both staff and clients, I was able to have more responsibilities and further help clients by creating individualized exercise programs and leading one on one sessions on specialized equipment such as the lokomat and Zero-G. Unfortunately, I am no longer a staff member at PACE after beginning my master’s degree, but my experience there will stay with me forever. Many of the skills I learned at PACE including good clinical practice and modifying exercises to fit an individual have really helped me in my graduate studies while organizing my own research studies. To this day I still visit clients both inside and outside the PACE on a regular basis as I truly do consider them friends.

Now, eighteen years into my MS journey, I have found exactly what I need...MS-FITT!

I was an athlete my whole life prior to being diagnosed with MS and even the first ten years after diagnosis. Then, overnight everything changed. Now, eighteen years into my MS journey, I have found exactly what I need…MS-FITT! I must sincerely thank everyone who makes this program possible. McMaster University, the sponsors, PACE staff and volunteers. The personalized exercise program is phenomenal and is helping me immensely. It’s frustrating to have your abilities ripped away from you, but it’s amazing to have a place and the help to get some back. You help to make this happen, to make my life better.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Nadina Gregory