SOUTH SHORE YMCA

Staystrong Cancer Support Celebrates 550 Lives Served

Posted: Oct. 01, 2022 DONATE TODAY!

Since the 2019 launch of Staystrong, the South Shore YMCA’s collaborative community cancer support program that provides essential daily living support to cancer patients, cancer survivors, their household family members and caregivers, we are proud to announce that over 550 cancer survivors have participated in this incredible program to regain strength and rebuild their health in spirit, mind and body.

Unlike traditional cancer support programs that focus on helping the individual deal directly with clinical care, the Staystrong program offers a unique, community-based approach to help cancer patients manage and improve their everyday personal lives and family responsibilities through the extended services and expertise of the YMCA, a leader in community integrated health.

“I am so proud of this program and so grateful to our members, community, donors, staff and volunteers who make it possible,” said Katelyn Szafir, Executive Director of the Hale Family YMCA branch and Medical Wellness Director for the South Shore YMCA. “Since launching the program in 2019, just before the pandemic, we have been able to serve and support 550 cancer survivors and their families.”

Built to encompass the entire family, Staystrong participants have free access to YMCA-sponsored health and wellness resources, programs, and support to help them face the overwhelming challenges of a cancer diagnosis. The initiative also includes free membership to all South Shore YMCA locations, a complimentary week of summer camp for children enrolled in the program and free, onsite drop-in babysitting for parents who are currently in treatment.

Thanks to our member’s charitable donations to Staystrong, Nancy Daly and her family received a year of free membership to the Y when her husband’s cancer returned, offering them a place to heal and a community where they could truly belong.

“Words cannot describe how thankful our family is for the Staystrong program at the Y! It was devastating news this past summer to hear my husband’s cancer had returned. His stage three cancer needed to be treated immediately. He had to stop working and our finances dropped to an all-time low. More stressful than the lagging finances was the well-being of our 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. These kids needed a happy distraction during their summer break from school. A good friend of mine who worked for the Y spoke very highly of the great programs the Y offered for families in our situation and suggested I contact you.  I am so glad I did! 

Thanks to the Staystrong program and the generous donations that fund these programs, our kids were able to enjoy a great week of summer camp at Camp Quirk in Quincy at no cost! This was huge and the kids enjoyed themselves so much they look forward to returning to Camp Quirk next summer! Finally, I must say every single person I came in contact with at the Y was top-notch superb customer service! Many thanks for helping a family through a rough summer!” – Nancy Daly, Staystrong Program Participant

When you belong to the Y, you belong to a community focused on improving the lives of others like Nancy and her family. 

Thank you for being a part of our community and for donating to ensure that the South Shore YMCA’s Staystrong cancer support program remains free of charge to participants, and available to all.

If you or a loved one has been touched by cancer and are going through treatment or have recently gone through treatment, learn how you and your family can benefit from the South Shore YMCA Staystrong program at ssymca.org/program/health/staystrong.

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