This fall, fitness is making an important impact on cancer care in our region. Cyndy McLean is launching her fundraiser, 10x21: Cycling 4 Chemo Chairs, to raise money for new chemotherapy chairs at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, while the UW WELL-FIT cancer exercise programs help patients improve their fitness during and after cancer treatment — two initiatives that would not be possible without the generous support of our communities.

After going through cancer treatment, exercise played a critical role in Cyndy’s recovery. When she realized she could also use physical activity to help others going through treatment in our region, she planned a 10-ride handcycling tour to raise money for new chemo chairs for the Cancer Centre. And she’s also using the event to shine a light on local cancer stories and resources from community ambassadors like Erin Rellinger-Smith.

Erin is a registered kinesiologist and certified exercise physiologist with UW WELL-FIT and one of six community ambassadors for 10x21: Cycling 4 Chemo Chairs, who each have personal experiences with cancer and are sharing their stories to help promote the fundraiser.

In her role at the University of Waterloo, Erin works with patients in both the START-FIT and STAY-FIT programs, which together make up UW WELL-FIT. START-FIT is a 12-week program that helps individuals improve their physical well-being during or after cancer treatment. This year, our communities generously provided $100,000 to the START-FIT program, through donations to Grand River Hospital Foundation, to help local cancer patients access the program.

“I’ve been a part of the University here, working with UW WELL-FIT for 16 years, so I’ve met thousands of people now that have utilized the Cancer Centre and the chemotherapy suite,” says Erin when asked about why she wanted to be a community ambassador for 10x21: Cycling 4 Chemo Chairs. “I always hear such great things about the care that they received there.”

And Erin also has a personal reason for supporting the Cancer Centre, too.

“My mom actually just finished chemotherapy,” she continues. “She was in chemotherapy at the time [I learned about the fundraiser], so I was like, ‘You know, I should get involved with this and donate some of my time to help this cause.’”

Grand River Regional Cancer Centre is the main site and partner for the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program, which provides cancer care for patients from across Waterloo Region, Wellington County, and the southern part of Grey County at seven hospital partners.

Every day, the Cancer Centre’s chemotherapy suite treats 70 to 100 patients, and the Hospital needs our communities’ help to raise $126,000 to fund 18 new chemo chairs. These chairs will provide more comfort and better functionality for patients while addressing the ergonomic needs of the nurses who deliver this important treatment.

“My hope is that I can raise awareness around this particular fundraiser so that people donate to the cause and that we meet the needs of the Hospital,” Erin explains. “My mom was there; she did six treatments in the chemo suite, and she said it was full every time … There’s a lot of people being [served] through [the Cancer Centre], so we need those chairs.”

To support 10x21: Cycling 4 Chemo Chairs and learn more about how you can impact the patient experience at the Cancer Centre, visit cycling4chemochairs.ca.