Participants
ALUMNI
My name is Jeff Runyan and I am recovering from a very advance diagnosed cancer called Burkitts Lymphoma. Burkitts Lymphoma is the faster growing malignancy known to man. It virtually doubles in size in less than 24 hours. In order to obtain a cure for this cancer you have to treat it more aggressively than the cancer itself. If you know anything at all about cancer then you may know that the only treatments available to treat a cancer like this are Chemo-Therapy and Radiation.
I spent the better part of 6 months being treated with high dose chemo-therapy and then many cycles of radiation. About mid way through my treatment I started developing severe side effects from my cure, Neuropathy, severe weight loss and many others. Once my treatment was over I was told to go home and I was allowed to go back to work. I was very happy that I was aloud back to work and thought that my life would turn back to normal rapidly. Little did I know that my body had its own idea of what I would be doing and I began to realize that I was not the man I was several months ago. This all came about so quickly I never really thought that I would be different, I could barely walk, balance, or even stand for more than a few minutes was very painful. I started looking for help for these conditions and believe it or not I couldn’t find any, there just wasn’t anything out there for my type of situation.
Then I remembered a news story I saw while lying in my hospital bed about a program called Fit to Fight. At the time I didn’t think that I would ever need a program like that but now I realized I did. I searched the internet frantically for the article and even made a few phone calls but I couldn’t find it. I finally started searching the local news channels archives and there it was, I called right away and asked for an application. The application came and I filled it out and sent it in. Some time went by and I continued to struggle to survive at my job and to do the best I could on my own when one day I got a response, I had been accepted into the program. At first I wasn’t to sure about it but Sam told me that they were going to make a program just for me and it would in just 8 weeks make a difference.
I went to the program as much as I could do but the volunteer staff kept telling me that no to be ashamed and that positive reassurance made me push on. After about the 6th week I started to notice a change, I had more endurance, I could wiggle my toes, and I could stand longer. I was overwhelmed and began telling anyone that would listen about it. Just the fact I could move my toes made me so very happy that I had to show it off to my family. At the end of the 8 weeks I have improved in a lot of the areas I was lacking before the program. The Fit to Fight program has made me better and I now see that even though I may never be my old self that the new one is just as good.
My name is Jeff Runyan and I’m Fit to Fight.
June 2, 2009
Dear Sam, Erika, Markee and Mary Lynn,
Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful “Fit to Fight” program. I was so impressed with the dedicated care you gave to each one of us. You were always there to answer our questions and to gently guide us though our exercises. I, who have always hated working out on machines, found that they could be fun and challenging. Thank you, Markee, for reminding me over and over when I was not using the machines correctly. I think now I can get the best benefit of the weights on my own. I especially enjoyed our first half-hour together when we learned to relax and to stretch and even improve my shaky balance. I used the last section of our time walking on the track and found that the time just flew by when you walked with us and shared your cancer stories. When you told us during our relaxing time, Markee, that your body still was not the same after six years past your diagnosis, it made me feel so much better. I was worried that I wasn’t accomplishing enough on my own and that I should be “my old self” by now.
Very Sincerely,
Barbara Frey
”Fit To Fight” has made a significant change in the quality of my life and to my emotional well-being and attitude. I feel stronger and healthier and I can see small changes reap big rewards. I have more confidence and less fear. My balance and strength have improved so much I can get on my bicycle again. I can see many improvements and I will stick with the techniques I have been taught to continue to improve.
Doris Vandenbroeck
The program very much suited my needs for physical and emotional. I very much enjoyed the youthful instructors and there “spunk”. The group setting was very good for me.
Thank You,
Luanne Greer
Had a WONDERFUL time.
Improved my strength, flexibility, and walking time. Mar’Kee, Kalyn and Sam are wonderful teachers and now my friends and buddies for life. We had a small class (4) and we became each others advocates and friends!
BRAVO
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Anonymous
I have been going through chemo for nearly a year and needed something to keep me active.I was feeling like I was falling apart and needed help learning what type of exercises I should even do. This program gave me what I needed and more.
Sandra M.
Contact Fit to Fight Montana