Year in Review – July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

This year, we continued to look closely at the issue of cancer survivorship.  With the advances in cancer treatments and the increase in early detection, more and more cancer patients go on to live long lives while struggling with the side effects of treatments.  Our Survivorship Assessment Tool has been very effective in helping us assess the needs of individuals diagnosed with cancer.  A survivorship series called Life after Cancer was offered over the course of several weeks with wonderful reviews from participants. As a result of a grant from the Livestrong Foundation that we received in partnership with University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, our staff attended advanced training to learn more about the topic of survivorship. In Fiscal Year 11-12, you will be hearing much more about the expansion of this concept.

“Caring for the whole patient” is a movement on the national scene and our staff attended a conference on family caregiving presented by the City of Hope Hospital.  As a result of what we learned, we have developed a Caregiver Assessment Tool which mirrors the Survivorship Assessment Tool we implemented last year. The new tool will allow us to better assess the unique needs of family caregivers and provide appropriate programming.

The benefits of exercise, during and after treatment for cancer, are showing up more and more in the professional literature. Exercise helps those with cancer emotionally as well as physically and The Gathering Place continues to be on the leading edge with programs and services. The most exciting news for The Gathering Place in FY10 was the rental and renovation of a third space: the Richman Family Wellness Center, across the street from our Beachwood office. The Richman family generously donated the majority of the funds to help us expand our exercise programs.

    

We now have a full range of the most popular and recommended workout machines and the expertise of Stephen Cerne, a personal trainer with a specialty in oncology, joined our staff.  Classes that are now available include: Balance 101, Strength Training for Men with Prostate Cancer, and Osteoporosis Prevention for Cancer Survivors. Our participants are thrilled with the new space and the classes fill up quickly!

Exercise and emotional recovery were the main reasons we formed Dragon Boat teams with the Cleveland Dragonboat Association – but the primary benefit turned out to be fun! Dragon Boat racing is a Chinese tradition going back hundreds   of years. In recent history, cancer survivors have taken up the pastime as a way to prove their strength, endurance, and team spirit. Racing against world-class athletes was challenging and energizing for Gathering Place participants and staff.

 

Our children’s programs continue to grow. In addition to our regular programming and consultation for children and families, we implemented several innovative programs focusing on nutrition and exercise. Children with cancer ages 8-18 had a chance to take part in exercise with the Kids Kicking Cancer program offered in collaboration with Rainbow Babies &  Children and the Iris & Bart Wolstein Foundation. By offering classes at both our east and west locations, children with cancer got the chance to learn the value of exercise in their recovery.   We also created Healthy Girls on the Move, a program for girls 10-16 who have an adult loved one with cancer.  Girls learned about self-care, nutrition, exercise and self-esteem.  Mother-daughter cooking classes also became part of our repertoire. Of course, we still know there’s a need for comforting food options, so we also had a one-time event for families called Disney Desserts! Characters came dressed up and fun activities were offered throughout the building. Children also enjoyed a Family Beach Party held in the coldest month of February.

Our nutrition programs also continue to grow in popularity and scope. Using new national guidelines from the New American Plate, a series of hands-on cooking classes were offered, focused on health through portion sizes and plant-based recipes.  We now can accommodate five cooking stations, each with its own induction burner, pots and pans and utensils. Our registered dietitian, Beth Roth, makes learning about cooking fun and there are always long waiting lists for her classes.

In the area of support groups, we continue to expand and refine our offerings.  Our group for African-American Women with breast cancer widened its eligibility to include all types of cancer. This monthly group is now called Sister Circle.  Continuing our outreach to underserved populations, a one day workshop was added in collaboration with the NAACP called Cancer in the African-American Family. Our group for those with advanced cancer took a break to regroup, and came back stronger with a new emphasis – now called Meaning-Centered Group for those with Advanced Cancer.  The group for young women with breast cancer at TGP West is flourishing. Our collaboration with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was enhanced with the offering of our first annual Blood Cancer Symposium.

We have accomplished much in 2010-2011, but there is still more ahead. We look forward to fiscal year 2011-2012 with much excitement as we implement our Strategic Plan that will outline the roadmap for the next three years.