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“I love being a MacWarrior!”

I love being a MacWarrior! A diagnosis of cancer, and the subsequent surgeries and treatments are very challenging, and take a physical and emotional toll on your body, heart, and mind. Many of us are blessed to have a circle of family and friends who surround us with love, positive energy, and hope. The Mac Warriors program builds on this circle by adding another source of strength and healing. A skilled physiotherapist, and a phenomenal team of professionals and students work together with us to create a fitness program that is designed for our special and unique needs. The team understands the challenges of those dealing with cancer and works with us on an individual basis to strengthen our bodies and minds. When I started with the Mac Warriors program 6 months ago, I could not stand up from a sitting position in a chair without using my arms to help me to get up. Now, I am not only leaping out of a chair, but I am also doing planks, push-ups and lunges! The Mac Warriors team guides us, supports us, and celebrates our accomplishments every step of the way. In addition to becoming stronger and fitter, I am also a member of the Mac Warriors community and have another circle of friends and support around me. Meeting these friends and collaborating together within the Mac Warriors community is the BEST side effect of cancer treatments. The Mac Warriors program changes lives … I know because it changed mine … and I am incredibly grateful!

“I gained lots of experience by working inside the exercise research and training centre.”

Volunteering for PACE while in high school impacted me in many ways in my life because I gained lots of experience by working inside the exercise research and training centre. The one-on-one experience with my client who always worked hard made me learn how to be a strong leader and made me learn how it feels tracking their performance over time. The staff members impacted me because they shared their knowledge of the machines to me. I am interested in the Kinesiology program offered at McMaster University and volunteering for PACE made me get the feel of what Kinesiology is about by tracking my client’s progress and keeping them motivated to stay healthy. Experiential learning at PACE personally helped me learn about improving the health of older people with chronic disease or disability and learn about new machines that help improve older people’s health.

“The MacWheelers program has been life-changing.”

When I was discharged from my Outpatient Physio program I worried that I might lose some of what I had recovered without ongoing physiotherapy. MacWheelers had been strongly recommended to me by the Outpatient team, but I was skeptical that going to a ‘gym’ could replace the specialized program that had helped my recovery so much. Once I experienced MacWheelers it was clear that it was far more than a membership at a gym! I was assessed and a personalized workout regimen was created for me. Eventually, I came for extra sessions to practice my walking and I have experienced significant improvements. The MacWheelers program has been life-changing. The staff and volunteers provide exceptional expertise, support and encouragement. I am certain that I would not have the quality of life I currently enjoy without MacWheelers. Thank you for all you do!